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SEATTLE (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) finally debuted its own Web search technology on Thursday, hoping to challenge Google Inc. (GOOG)'s long dominance of the field with results tailored to a user's location and answers from its Encarta encyclopedia.

Google signaled that it is ready for a fight, announcing Wednesday that it would nearly double the amount of Web pages available to search through its site.

The Microsoft search engine, offered in 11 languages, will initially be available on a special "test" site. Gradually, some users visiting Microsoft's MSN site may find that the existing search bar uses the new search engine, said Adam Sohn, a director with the company's online division. But a full rollout, perhaps with new features, isn't expected until early next year.

More here: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041111/D869LOA81.html

Microsoft is my largest stock holding as of 06-30-04 . I was second guessing the fund managers a bit thinking it may be a value trap. But it is up almost 10% this year. Gates sold off a big chunk at $60 and moved into things like Cox Communication, REITS, and Waste Mannagement.

Microsoft MSFT $746.62

% of holdings in MSFT Date of profilo

8.80 T. Rowe Price Global Technology PRGTX 649.52 06-30-04

1.07 American Funds Washington Mutual A AWSHX 0.09 52.22 06-30-04

0.84 American Century Equity Income Inv TWEIX 0.07 40.69 06-30-04

2.89 Vanguard Institutional Index Instl Pl

A few months back Avon was my biggest stock holding.

To add value to the company MSFT have cut back on workers vacation time. From 3 weeks to 2 weeks. That kind of tells me they are running out of ideas. Hidious amounts of cash. With intrest rates a riseing companies with cash may do very well. Don't totally understand this current rally.

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