Christof,

>Hi Doug,
>
>>OTOH perhaps, as a result of your 'poking around' with your attempt to dig out information regarding version 3.0 their network folks are very much on top of their game and wanted to make sure you were legitimate?
>
>Maybe... I guess I can't expect in the US that customer-related information are used for intended purposes only.

I understand. I don't like it when my information is sold.

>
>But I still think that trying to get (hack) into my computer as a response for entering a URL in the browser that they don't want to be entered, is not an appropriate reaction. You can always lookup IPs with WHOIS and find out which provider they use. Like most providers, my provider has got an abuse email address that is specified in the WHOIS listing. If they feel that I misused their services, they can report this to my provider. After all, the IP address is a dynamic one. It could even be one used in a NAT service. In thise case my entire neighbourhood would use the same IP. IPs don't resolve to individuals.

No argument here. Even if it was a techie trying to figure out if they were being hacked the response seems a bit much.

>
>Maybe it's just that this was such an extraordinary bad sample of customer service that made me angry. I've evaluated a lot of software in my life and sometimes I got no support, sometimes companies called me to ask if I have had any troubles with the product (e.g. Seapine). But I've never been locked out by company because I entered a URL, especially not when talking about an $800 product with a $200 annual support plan.
>

Right.

Now.. If you don't mind I have a question. Have you had a chance to evaluate the product (Visual UML) and are you convinced that the product (apart from their lousy customer service <g>) would be worth the $$? The reason I ask is that I am also thinking of purchasing this product as well.