disparities in hardware?

[Ari Jort <arijort thorn net>]

A general question from someone who does not know
very much about hardware or about alphas:

Why do there seem to be such great disparities 
in software support among the various alpha platforms?
Are there historical reasons?  Do similar issues
exist for NT/Alpha?  How about other chips?

It seems there are many more complications getting software
for one particular alpha as opposed to another than for 
the various intel chips and their clones; even chips made 
by other companies.  All the varieties of Alphas are actually
made by Digital, right?


Thanks for any enlightenment,

Ari Jort