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FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 4, 1997 AT 7:30 A.M. EST
Contact:        Erik Randerson (investors)
                Owen Daley (media)
                Allen & Caron/South Coast Communications
                (714) 252-8440

ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS SELLS ALPHAHEALTHCARE OPERATION TO UNIDENT PRACTICE
PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS

SANTA ANA, CA (February 4, 1997). . . .Alpha Microsystems (Nasdaq NM: ALMI)
announced today that it has sold its Oregon-based AlphaHeathCare operation, a
provider of practice management solutions for the dental market, to
privately-held UNIDENT Practice Performance Systems.

UNIDENT, based in Lincoln, NE, is a developer and marketer of technology
solutions for the dental market. The sales price for AlphaHealthCare is $450,000
plus contingent payments to be made over a five-year period. The sale is not
expected to have a material impact on the Company's fiscal fourth quarter ending
February 23, 1997. Further terms were not disclosed.

In making the announcement, Alpha Microsystems President and CEO Douglas J.
Tullio said, "The sale of AlphaHealthCare marks a concluding step in our
divestiture efforts and allows us to more clearly focus our resources on the
AlphaCONNECTO family of Internet/intranet products, and the North American
services operation. We anticipate that the sale of AlphaHealthCare will also
help improve the bottom-line performance of Alpha Microsystems."

Alpha Microsystems Services Operations (AMSO) will continue to provide
maintenance support services to the current base of AlphaHealthCare customers
and AMSO has been appointed the sole preferred nationwide provider of
maintenance services by UNIDENT for its entire installed base. AMSO has also
been designated as UNIDENT's vendor of first choice for computer hardware and
peripherals.

Tullio added, "UNIDENT is a long-established, leading solutions and hardware
supplier for the dental market and AlphaHealthCare fits well into their business
model. We are pleased that AMSO will continue to provide maintenance services to
AlphaHealthCare's installed base. In addition, we believe our appointment to
sole preferred service provider, as well as vendor of first choice for UNIDENT,
could result in additional service opportunities for AMSO."

UNIDENT President Glenn Friendt commented, "We are excited about the opportunity
to work with AlphaHealthCare clients throughout the country. By incorporating
the capabilities of AlphaHealthCare into UNIDENT's current business, we can
deliver an expanded set of technologies and the highest level of customer
service to dentists from coast to coast."

UNIDENT Practice Performance Systems is a developer and reseller of computer
software, hardware and services to the dental profession. Since 1983, UNIDENT
has helped dental




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practices around the country to implement, maintain and enhance electronic
business and clinical information systems. For more information, contact UNIDENT
at 800-344-6930.

Alpha Microsystems serves the Internet and intranet markets through its
software, services and technologies. The Company also provides products and
services such as consulting, maintenance, software, hardware and networking,
both directly and through value-added resellers and distributors. Alpha
Microsystems has been in business for over 18 years and today has over 40
locations, as well as third party distribution channels worldwide. For more
information, contact the Company's Web site at http://www.alphamicro.com

Certain statements in this Press Release constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future
results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.




















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