Alpha was first to power 64-bit PC desktops

WHILE AMD AND Apple squabble over which is the first to make a desktop machine that uses a 64-bit CPU, let us not forget the DEC Alpha microprocessor.

For that matter, there was a Windows NT for MIPS, as well...

The Alpha powered Windows NT workstations and desktop machines for quite a few years, and of course was supported by Microsoft until Compaq - as was - pulled the plug on the project.

Compaq was concerned about the fact it had never made a single penny on the Alpha microprocessor, whether in its hands, or in the fair hands of the firm that developed it, DEC.

Rather than come up with the necessary money to get Microsoft to develop applications for the amazing chip, Compaq instead decided that the whole thing wasn't worth the candle.

We've got a copy of Windows NT for the Alpha kicking about here at the INQwell - but we've just never had the chance to try it out on an Alpha machine.

We wrote about this in another plaice in August 1999.

The soon to be late and lamented Alpha was indeed ahead of its time but that didn't stop it being, er, stopped. µ