🚀 go-pugleaf

For hobbiest type applications I'd recommend the
Intel 8052AH-BASIC.  The microcontroller is the standard 8052 with
8K of ROM, except that this version's ROM contains a built in
BASIC interpreter!  It has the following goodies:

1 Bidirectional serial port
1 unidirectional serial port
3 onboard timers
external interrupt pins,
and can address up to 64K of memory. (32K RAM + 32K EPROM)

Using the 8052AH-BASIC is as simple as connecting it to minimum 2K SRAM,
and the necessary RS232 drivers and an XTAL. Turn it on, connect
it to a terminal, hit the space bar and you're in the BASIC interpreter.
From basic you have access to the timers with instructions such
as ONTIME time, GOSUB 1000
access to the external interrupts is done with ONEX1 2000 
etc...
Basically you have a souped up PET.  You can also make calls
to assembly language routines.
	I've wired one up with 32K SRAM, 8K EEPROM, an A/D converter
and a D/A converter as well as several I/O registers. Loads of
fun for the whole family!
			-Steve