It is being billed as the next big battle between the Big Bad Evil Empire and the 'do no evil' boys from Stanford.
The battle is for the market in internet search software and the players, naturally enough, are Microsoft in the corner with the dark shorts and Google in the other in white. Well, that is the way it is being promoted.
For the past few years, Google has dominated internet search software and pundits have been predicting a showdown with Microsoft for some time. Last year the company made a small gesture in that direction with MSN Search.
The image that is brought up all the time is Netscape. The argument goes like this: 'Remember Netscape? Microsoft destroyed it and it will do the same to Google.'
Not everybody thinks Microsoft will succeed, of course. the Search Battle is not the same as the Browser Wars.
On reflection, we all know Netscape made a lot of mistakes. Some were out of arrogance and silliness, others could not be helped.