AP - Lucent Technologies Inc. and French telecom equipment maker Alcatel SA are discussing a merger in what could be the start of consolidation among the companies that help power telephone and Internet networks.

Reuters - Graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp. said on Thursday it has a new design contract with Sony Corp. (6758.T) that will pay more than it earned for creating the graphics processor for the upcoming PlayStation 3 video game console.

Reuters - Palm Inc., the maker of Treo cell phones, on Thursday said quarterly profit rose as it doubled sales of its phones and introduced a new device based on Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system.

Reuters - Microsoft Corp. named Steve Sinofsky to oversee its core Windows business on Thursday, choosing someone from the company's Office business software unit to lead an operating system division beset by delays and missed deadlines.

AP - Microsoft Corp. announced a broad reorganization Thursday of the unit that produces its flagship Windows operating system, two days after the company said the new consumer version of Windows would not be ready for the holiday season as planned.

NewsFactor - Dell has announced plans to purchase high-performance computing specialist Alienware in a move designed to bolster the leading PC manufacturer's portfolio of top-end machines sought by gamers and technophiles willing to pay top dollar for cutting-edge design and superior multimedia performance.

Macworld.com - Glass maker Corning Inc. has developed a more environmentally-friendly glass substrate for use in LCD (liquid crystal display) production that is free of all heavy metals, including arsenic, the company said Tuesday.

Reuters - General Mills Inc. , maker of Cheerios cereal and Progresso soup, on Thursday reported higher quarterly earnings as higher sales offset increased fuel, packaging and marketing costs.

Reuters - U.S. stock futures dipped on Thursday after design software maker Adobe Systems Inc. gave a disappointing outlook after hours.

The world's largest computer maker buys Alienware whose PCs are famous for their "Alien" UFO style look.

AP - Dell Inc., the world's largest computer maker, was long known for cheap, high-quality computers that didn't have much style or cachet among hardcore video gamers.

Reuters - Design software maker Adobe Systems Inc. on Wednesday posted lower quarterly net income on acquisition-related costs and gave a disappointing outlook, sending its shares down nearly 4 percent.

Reuters - Dell Inc. said on Wednesday it agreed to buy gaming-computer maker Alienware Corp., part of a push into the lucrative computer gaming market that could help the No. 1 PC maker boost profit.

AP - Dell Inc., the world's largest computer maker, said Wednesday it would buy Alienware Corp., whose high-ends PCs are widely acclaimed by video gamers for their fast performance and sleek, UFO-themed looks.

Reuters - Design software maker Adobe Systems Inc. on Wednesday posted lower quarterly net profit, weighed down by costs related to its acquisition of Macromedia.

Reuters - Dell Inc. , the world's biggest PC maker, said on Wednesday it agreed to buy privately held Alienware, which makes high-end gaming computers.

General Motors is offering hourly workers as much as $140,000 each to leave the company as the troubled automaker extends its push to cut labor costs and put an end to billions of dollars in losses. The company also announced an agreement with bankrupt auto parts maker Delphi and the UAW that is seen as a key to avoiding a crippling strike at the parts supplier.

Reuters - Computer graphics chip maker Nvidia Corp. said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy Finnish graphics software company Hybrid Graphics Ltd. for an undisclosed amount.

AP - Taiwanese home appliances maker Teco Electric & Machinery Co. said on Wednesday its Japanese unit has settled a patent dispute brought against it by Japan's Sharp Corp. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Reuters - The chairman of Dell Inc. , the world's largest PC maker, said on Wednesday the company's market share in China rose by 3 percentage points in the last quarter of 2005.