BRIEFCASE POWER-ONE DROPS PROFIT PROJECTION.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

CAMARILLO - Power-One Inc. said Wednesday that it expected sales and earnings in the first quarter to fall below previously announced expectations.

Power-One expects net sales to be in the range of $55 million to $57 million, compared with previous estimates of $60 million to $65 million.

The Camarillo-based company projects a net loss in the range of 5 cents to 6 cents per basic share, compared with previous guidance of 3 cents to 4 cents per basic share.

Steven Bersch new COO of Fox Home

CENTURY CITY - Steven Bersch was named to the newly created position of chief operating officer of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Wednesday.

As COO, Bersch will have oversight of the units' business development, acquisitions, operations, finance and administration, business and legal affairs and information technology.

Bersch is a nine-year Fox veteran. He will report directly to Mike Dunn, who was named president of the home entertainment division earlier this month.

``Steve is a proven leader, a smart and savvy executive and a keen strategist that brings a unique skill set that will help sharpen our competitive edge,'' Dunn said.

Ex-vice president joins Apple board

CUPERTINO - Former Vice President Al Gore was elected to the board of Apple Computer Inc. Wednesday.

Gore, who popularized the term ``information superhighway'' as vice president and voted for money to build the Internet as a congressman, praised chief executive Steve Jobs and other Apple executives for making the computer company ``once again the very best in the world.''

But despite critically acclaimed products and a supportive fan base, Apple only has a 3 percent share of the U.S. personal computer market, according to the research firm IDC.