Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!tellab5!laidbak!obdient!vpnet!cgordon
From: cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us (Crash Gordon)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Which microprocessor is user friendly ?
Message-ID: <2727caa6-4e7.1sci.electronics-1@vpnet.chi.il.us>
Date: 26 Oct 90 05:55:05 GMT
References: <1990Oct24.234727.17533@NCoast.ORG>
Lines: 22


>Author: [Cedric Ramsey]
>I wanted to know which microprocessor is easier for a novice to build a
>system around.

My choice would be the Intel 8052AH-BASIC.  This one gives you the power of
the MCS-51 core (minus some resources that BASIC grabs) with a relatively
friendly front end (A flavor of BASIC is ROMmed-in).  If you don't tell
people what you've used, you can even do some serious projects with this one.

Then, once you've become accustomed to the architecture, you can try
assembler (or C) and be able to build one-chip systems.  Very convenient.

For a manual, contact Intel and get the MCS BASIC-52 User's Manual, order
number 270010-003.  If you say the right things to the right people, you can
get this, the 8-bit embedded controller databook, and the embedded apps
book, all for $0.  I did.

(Editor's note:  Personally, I think C on a one-chip micro is pretty dumb,
but it's out there, and some people do use it.  No accounting for taste.)
-----------------------------------------------------
Gordon S. Hlavenka            cgordon@vpnet.chi.il.us
Disclaimer:                Yeah, I said it.  So what?