[Info-vax] Alpha V8.4-2 distribution

[Steven Schweda]

> Does anyone know if any Alphas came with DVD drives?

   Who cares what was available/standard/typical fifteen
years ago?  And why?  It's possible to install a DVD drive in
at least some Alpha systems now, if you can find an
appropriate drive for your system.

>   Did an[y] itanics come with CD drives?

   Again, who cares?  I'm sure that it was possible to get
one equipped that way from someone, but a DVD drive was
probably more likely.  My zx2000 (older than VMS support),
for example, includes an "HL-DT-STDVD-ROM GDR8160B", but I
don't remember if it was installed by HP or me.  That's a
full-size (half-height) drive.  Newer systems tend to use
laptop-sized drives which are not well known for their
longevity.

> [...] Now I'm going to have to learn how to
> run the damn thing.  Maybe it will have a DVD drive. 

   It's hard for a non-psychic like me to say how it'll be
equipped.  Perhaps it'll come with a manual (or a link to
one) which will explain how to run the thing.  On the bright
side, it should be possible to make mistakes on it at a much
higher rate than on any Alpha.