I know you know I2c, but I was referring only with reference to 8052.

User interface, might require you to put in some kinda LCD panel, or led,
to display the information, and an IR or direct kinda keypad to input the command.........

That too I beleive is no big deal in terms of difficulty to make using 8052, one such application nowadays I am making with user interface. I2c handling the serial eeprom and displaying the data at the user interface. For command I am using IR remote control which is generic type.

However, that's too time consuming.

Tell me one thing, you said you just started off with mcs51. Are you doing it in assembly or C. I can only do in assembly. (don't know c enough)

Please let me know more detail of your application.

I suggest you use a generic IR contorl rather than making kepad.

Regards

Babar/