IMHO compaq makes the same mistake as digital to
promote the alpha chip. Alpha means Unix, and in the consumer market there is no demand for Unix. There is a demand for an system that uses smp, dsp, video, connectivity and real expansion options (not just another slot/bus system like pci,agp but like VME)with an new desktop(real time, object technology, and themes)for $1000 to $2000. The pc cannot deliver this.
And compaq is not in the position to create yet another niche.
It would be a better choice to go the way as Elbrus (http://www.elbrus.ru) and transmeta and
let the Alpha run all intel like software,
In the mean while the new AMD K7 is an opportunity as it uses the same bus protocol as the Alpha. No need to develop motherboards for the consumer market Give Be $20 mln and make an native alpha port available. Amiga inc. might be interested in the hardware combination.
As demand rises compaq can introduce more options
for the alpha like dsp, dvd hardware en/decoders on chip, which can be used by consumer software.
This way there is an future for alpha

Unix and alpha will not succeed on the long term.