Agreed. The "8052 computer" thread is certainly a "negotiation" where everyone that wants to participate certainly needs to be heard. This thread is more for me to get an idea of what topics ought to be covered (or specifically not covered) in such a tutorial and, as a result, should be included in the SBC design. I don't want to try to discuss a theoretical concept for which there is no hardware example given. Thus the SBC should contain everything I plan to discuss in an instructional format and nothing more (since I don't want to complicate the hardware or have hardware that is not explained in the instructional material).

Regarding the PS/2 keyboard, I'm undecided. I hadn't even considered it for the SBC but it's only a connector plug connected to a few I/O lines. In this environment where many new computers don't even have an RS232 port a PS/2 keyboard combined with the 44780 LCD that is already planned for the SBC might not be a bad "package deal" that would allow complete interaction even if the user's computer doesn't have a serial port. It could also be optional. If they don't want or care about a keyboard port, don't connect the connector and ignore that part of the schematic.

Tough call.

For what it's worth I highly doubt anyone here will actually ever use the SBC being designed. This is really only a model that will be used to explain additional concepts not covered in the existing tutorials. So the question is what topics are worthwhile to a person just starting to learn the 8052?

Regards,
Craig Steiner