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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.72


                              NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                 IN LIEU OF CASH COMPENSATION FOR PRIOR SERVICES


               THIS AGREEMENT is dated as of the ___ day of ____________, 1998
(the "Award Date"), and is between ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS, a California corporation
(the "Corporation"), and ____________ (the "Optionee").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -

               WHEREAS, Optionee has elected in lieu of cash compensation for
his services as a Director of the Corporation during the period commencing
December 1, 1997 through September 1, 1998 to accept a non-qualified stock
option to purchase all or any part of _____________ authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Alpha Microsystems 1998 Stock Option and Award Plan (the "Plan"), on the terms
and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan.

               NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and
covenants made herein and the mutual benefits to be derived herefrom, the
parties agree as follows:

               1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Plan.

               2. Grant of Option. This Agreement evidences the Corporation's
grant to the Optionee of the right and option to purchase, on the terms and
conditions set forth herein and in the Plan, all or any part of an aggregate of
____________ shares of the Common Stock at the price of $_________ per share
(the "Option"), exercisable from time to time, subject to the provisions of this
Agreement and the Plan, prior to the close of business on the day before the
tenth anniversary of the Award Date (the "Expiration Date"). This Option is not
intended to constitute an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section
422 of the the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

               3. Exercisability of Option. All or any portion of the Option may
be exercised immediately.

               4. Method of Exercise of Option.

                      (a) The Option shall be exercisable by the delivery to the
        Corporation of a written notice stating the number of shares to be
        purchased pursuant to the Option and accompanied by payment made in
        accordance with and in a form permitted by 

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        Section 8(c)(i) of the Plan for the full purchase price of the shares to
        be purchased, subject to such further limitations and rules or
        procedures as the Administrator may from time to time establish as to
        any non-cash payment. Shares delivered in payment of the exercise price
        must have been owned by Optionee for at least six months prior to the
        exercise. In addition, the Optionee shall furnish any written statements
        required pursuant to Section 12(a) of the Plan.

                      (b) The Corporation may require that the Optionee enter
        into an arrangement providing for the payment by the Optionee to the
        Corporation of any tax withholding obligation of the Corporation arising
        by reason of the exercise of the Option.

               5. Conditions to Exercise. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the Option may not be exercised unless the shares
issuable upon exercise of the Option are then registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or, if such shares are not then
so registered, the Corporation has determined that such exercise and issuance
would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. If the
Corporation, in its sole discretion, shall determine that it is necessary to
comply with applicable securities laws, the certificate or certificates
representing the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option shall bear an
appropriate legend in form and substance, as determined by the Corporation,
giving notice of applicable restrictions on transfer under or in respect of such
laws.

               6. Effect of Cessation of Optionee's Directorship. After the
Optionee ceases to be a Director of the Corporation, the Optionee's rights to
exercise any unexercised portion of this Option shall be as follows:

                             (a) If the Optionee ceases to be a Director by
               reason of death, the portion of such Optionee's Option
               exercisable at the time of such Optionee's death may thereafter
               be immediately exercised by the legal representative of the
               estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under the will of the
               Optionee, for a period of one year from the date of such death or
               until the expiration of the Option, whichever period is shorter.

                             (b) If the Optionee ceases to be a Director by
               reason of Disability, that portion of the Option which was
               exercisable at the time such Optionee ceased to be a Director may
               thereafter be exercised for a period of one year from the date of
               such cessation or until the expiration of the Option, whichever
               period is shorter.

                             (c) If the Optionee ceases to be a Director for any
               reason other than death or Disability, that portion of the Option
               which was exercisable at the time such Optionee ceased to be a
               Director may be exercised until the earlier to occur of (i) three
               months from the date of such cessation, or three years if the
               Optionee had served as a Director for ten years or more or had
               reached the age of 

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               70 at the date the Optionee ceased to be a Director; or (ii) the
               expiration of the stated term of such Non-Qualified Stock
               Option.

               7. Investment Representation. The Optionee hereby covenants and
agrees with the Corporation that if, at the time of exercise of the Option,
there does not exist a Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the
Securities Act, which Registration Statement shall have become effective and
shall include a prospectus which is current with respect to the shares subject
to the Option, (i) that the Optionee is purchasing the shares for the Optionee's
own account and not with a view to the resale or distribution thereof, (ii) that
any subsequent offer for sale or sale of any such shares shall be made either
pursuant to (x) a Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the Act,
which Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be current
with respect to the shares being offered and sold, or (y) a specific exemption
from the registration requirements of the Act, but in claiming such exemption,
the Optionee shall, prior to any offer for sale of sale of such shares, obtain a
favorable written opinion from counsel for or approved by the Corporation as to
the applicability of such exemption and (iii) that the Optionee agrees that the
certificates evidencing such shares shall bear a legend to the effect of the
foregoing.

               8. Non-Transferability of Option. The Option and any other rights
of the Optionee under this Agreement or the Plan are nontransferable except as
provided in Section 8(c)(4) of the Plan.

               9. Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this
Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal
office located at 2722 South Fairview Street, Santa Ana, California 92704, to
the attention of the Chief Financial Officer and to the Optionee at the address
given beneath the Optionee's signature hereto, or at such other address as
either party may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

               10. Plan. The Option and all rights of Optionee thereunder are
subject to, and the Optionee agrees to be bound by, all of the terms and
conditions of the provisions of the Plan, incorporated herein by this reference,
to the extent such provisions are applicable to options granted to Optionee. The
Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, which is made a part hereof
by this reference, and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof. Unless otherwise
expressly provided in other Sections of this Agreement, provisions of the Plan
that confer discretionary authority on the Administrator do not (and shall not
be deemed to) create any rights in the Optionee unless such rights are expressly
set forth herein or are otherwise in the sole discretion of the Administrator so
conferred by appropriate action of the Administrator under the Plan after the
date hereof.


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               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to
be executed on its behalf by a duly authorized officer and the Optionee has
hereunto set his or her hand.

                                    ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS,
                                    a California corporation


                                    By:_________________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Title:___________________________________


                                    OPTIONEE


                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Signature)

                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Print Name)

                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (Address)

                                    ____________________________________________
                                    (City, State, Zip Code)


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