I'm not sure number of ucontrollers used matters. If a 20 pin '2051 could off-load harware/software i wouldn't sweat it.

The capability proposed for this platform is perhaps a set of interfaces. If these interfaces where conceptualize one way, a "central processor" exercises these interfaces to configure the "unit".

If the interfaces where logical, one version of this platform could implement as surplus keyboard, with TV output, SRAM Cartridge store. A binary compatible but alternate solution might implement PC type I/O (keyboard, mouse, Mag/Silicon Disk, true color VGA).

Now a confession; i never used an ATARI 800 so the capability of that platform model is conceptual to me.

Also i believe this thread began in the spirit "I think an 8052 computer ought to rival or exceed the capabilities of those machines."

Art pretty much exists for stand-alone Disk, Kybd, Mouse and Network solutions using '51 technology. If these implementations where "unified" by an accepted interface, platform scaling could occur. It must be said, however, that doing this you just might lose the "spirit" of the ATARI 800 whose features where physically, instead of logically specific.

regards,
p