1.   Alpha processors, built in Hudson, Mass., are widely regarded as the fastest, most powerful computer chips on the market.

2.   For instance, the company earlier this year abandoned its advanced Alpha processor chip, which is designed to run OpenVMS.

3.   Of these, only Digital competes directly against Intel in the chip business, with its powerful Alpha processor.

4.   Other cuts will come from the recently announced plan to sell off much of the assets from the Alpha processor division to Intel.

5.   Suddenly, computers using Alpha processors have been shut out from the vast market for workstations and servers running Windows NT.