thefluorescents ALTO are bad.
but the hps bulbs are good!

And that article explains the problem with ALTOs, I wouldn't imagine an article about the ALTO II line...

The Alto 2 is the worst part of the new alto family.  I had one fail after 2 months or so. regular altos are not bad at all. My alto collection includes:
(1) ceramic Metal -Halide 100W
(10)25W Alto Energy advantage
(lots of)F32T8 at least 20.
(3)Alto2's
(2) F34 Econ-o-Watt's ( I gave the rest away.)
(a few ) f40T12 cool white plus
(2)28W 3500K T5's W/out cathode guard
(1)F15T8 cool white plus
(2)F30T12 cool white plus
(1)20W T12 Daylight Deluxe
 

I have a 250 watt HPS alto. got it for free. (well i just got it off the side of the road... with a busted m-250 r2 and it works!!!) well, just one alto bulb, unless my rarew coated 400w HPS bulb is an ALTO, but i highly doubt it. (it IS phillips though.)

I never see a 400w HPS bulb is an ALTO

I used to think the green ended bulbs were the coolest and that I had to have one. Nevermind now.   

I still think green endcaps looks very cool. What comes to technology, I really dont have much experience about Altos since those are not sold here. I have some F20CW altos that came through trade years ago and at least one of those have done very good job. Another one died to failed cathode but that was probably due to frequent swithing that it could not handle + T12 habit of instant starting in 230v preheat.

I have colored the ends of a few tubes with markers to make them "blackenders"

Have a few F96T12 110W. Thats the only Alto that we have over here

I have seen f8t5 alto on eBay once before.

The first gen of Alto Green caps fluorescent tubes did great, aside from frequently burning up the sockets/tombstones when going EoL from all the heat.  However-  The Alto IIs have proven to be the worst lamps out of the big three.  The 700 and 800 series in particular.  Biggest issue?  Very weak filaments.  they would break off very easily and then your bulb is shot.  They did fine in environments where the lamp would be turned on and left on for 8+ hours a day, but frequent on/off was harder on the Altos vs Sylvania and GE.  Also the tubes were so light that they would often crack & shatter in your hands when taking an EOL bulb out of the fixture.  After several bloody hands, I now wear gloves when touching those things.  I only had this issue with the first gen Sylvania Octron T8s from the early 90s. 

I have several 400W HPS Alto lamps.Have some in 250W as well.HD used to sell them when their store was here.Have some Alto Retro White Master 400W color HPS to CMH conversion bulbs.These work REALLY well!Need to order some more.Got them online.Will order some 250W ones as well.

I have several kinds of Altos:

F32T8/TL741 "Alto II"
F32T8/TL841 "Universal Hi-Vision"
F40/35U "Ultralume"
F20T12/CW
F15T8/Soft White K&B

My favorites are the Ultralume and the Soft White. I only have one of each.

The first gen of Alto Green caps fluorescent tubes did great, aside from frequently burning up the sockets/tombstones when going EoL from all the heat.  However-  The Alto IIs have proven to be the worst lamps out of the big three.  The 700 and 800 series in particular.  Biggest issue?  Very weak filaments.  they would break off very easily and then your bulb is shot.  They did fine in environments where the lamp would be turned on and left on for 8+ hours a day, but frequent on/off was harder on the Altos vs Sylvania and GE.  Also the tubes were so light that they would often crack & shatter in your hands when taking an EOL bulb out of the fixture.  After several bloody hands, I now wear gloves when touching those things.  I only had this issue with the first gen Sylvania Octron T8s from the early 90s. 

Do you know when was first gen Altos manufactured and whats the difference between generations (other than later ones sucks?)

The Alto line was released in 1995, with the first gen Alto going until 2007.  Let me throw out there that I have been VERY VERY impressed with the first gen of Altos.  Out of the big 3, they clearly performed the best and lasted the longest, and that is hard for me to say because I am a loyal Sylvania & GE man.  My only performance complaint with the first gen and this would also carry over to the 2nd gen would be their color output.  GE & Sylvania tended to have a more "true" and "uniform" 3000, 3500, & 4100k color output where as the Philips was a bit off in my opinion.  Especially in the 4100 range (cool white) Philips seem more "soft" white where as the other two are a more cool/crisp white, what we've been used to with the T12s and forever..

From The Philips website:
"In 2007, Philips introduced ALTO II Technology. These bulbs have 50% less mercury than the original ALTO, making them the most sustainable linear fluorescents available. Best of all, these bulbs offer the same superior performance levels as before. That means you don't have to sacrifice bulb life, light quality or energy to help you be more sustainable.

In 2007, Philips introduced ALTO II Technology. These bulbs have 50% less mercury than the original ALTO, making them the most sustainable linear fluorescents available. Best of all, these bulbs offer the same superior performance levels as before. That means you don't have to sacrifice bulb life, light quality or energy to help you be more sustainable.
Mercury in T8 lamps

All fluorescent lamps need a small amount of mercury to operate efficiently but Philips has been working hard to reduce the mercury levels. With the use of ALTO Lamp Technology, Philips set a standard by reducing the amount of mercury in T8 lamps to a then industry-low 3.5mg. With ALTO II Technology, fluorescent T8 lamps now have only 1.7mg of mercury and still deliver outstanding performance. And to further help reduce environmental impact, Philips only uses recycled mercury in the lamp.
Better for the environment. Same performance characteristics.

There is a misconception that lowering the mercury will reduce lamp life, energy savings or light output—this is not the case. Philips has developed an innovative way to lower the mercury level without sacrificing life or any other performance parameters."

Source:  
http://www.usa.philips.com/c/fluorescent-tubes/296298/cat/en/

I can also throw out there that another difference between Alto and Alto II is that Alto II's are not as heavy and the glass is thinner, making them more prone to breaking/shattering.