[Kewl]

Apparently, we're the only one that *were* having this problem...

Since it was a problem that was solved by turning off the network (either in software or in hardware by unplugging the Ethernet), my colleagues and I investigated further and found a network setting that was affecting only PT (the update checker part of it anyway).

The answer: in the Network Systems Prefs, for an Ethernet connection, the "Search domains" field must be completed.

When we plug our various computers to the network, they all get their IP addresses and DNS servers from the DHCP servers, that's it, that's all. Every damn piece of software on the computers, whether it's a browser, a FTP client or the update checker now found in about every app on the market works without any problems But PT? No sir. The search domain must be specified, if not, the poor PT update checker (whatever it's setting) stops everything.

- Kewl