BUYOUT DRAMA: Other bidders still may try to trump a 6-week-old deal calling for personal computer maker Dell Inc. to be sold for $24.4 billion to its CEO, Michael Dell, and a group led by Silver Lake Partners.

PROSPECTIVE SUITOR: Blackstone Group has been mulling making an offer that would top the current sale price of $13.65 per share, according to published reports. Under one long-shot scenario, Blackstone is hoping it can persuade former Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd to run Dell if it mounts a successful takeover

DECISION TIME: Dell Inc. wants all competing bids to be submitted by the end of Friday, although that deadline could be extended.