> As far as I can see, it is much cheaper to buy the board
> with NT firmware, opgrade the firmware with downloadable
> oSF firmware from DEC or even better with MILO.
For running Linux, it doesn't matter. You can buy either board. What
makes the OSF/1 version more expensive is not the firmware, but the
licenses that allow you to run OSF/1. If you don't want to run OSF/1,
go ahead and buy the NT version. The SRM firmware can be downloaded
from ftp.digital.com, but as you say: MILO is better! (Just be sure
to get a graphics card that's known to work.)
> Is there something I've missed, or isn't this the cheapest
> way to run Linux on an Alpha Board ?
Nothing you missed.
> BTW, are there any problems in running linux on the 233 Mhz board
> - except from the price ? :-)
No. There are a bunch of people with 233MHz boards. The price
difference is only $100 or so.
Hope this helps.
--david