>> Any suggestions?
>
> I'd say: forget one box containing both a
> development-environment/file-system/scree/keyboard and a real-real-time
> operating system. To me that screams 'two boxes'. Once you accept that
> there are lots of options.

Once you go that route, and use the mini-ATX as a development system, there 
are several RTOS systems available for the PIC24 and up devices, if I read 
the Microchip forum correctly. 

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