[amsat-bb] Better/best operating system for SatPC32?

[Philip Jenkins]

I'm in the process of buying a very low-end refurbished PC for use at Field
Day and at a 10 day local fair this Fall to demonstrate satellite operating.

All that this PC will be used for is running packet software and SatPC32 in
the field. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to use the PC to control the
antenna. (I may use this PC as for  packet/APRS at home; I have another Win
XP shack desktop already dedicated to ham radio/SatPC32/rig control/antenna
steering.)

Which is a better OS for this, Win 7 Home Premium 32-bit (which most of the
PCs that I'm looking at) or Win 7 Home Premium (64-bit)?  I had heard there
were some compatibility problems (not necessarily with any ham radio
software) with the 32-bit version when Win 7 first came out.

Most of the machines with either version come with 1 GB RAM - should I
choose one with 2GB or more (or install more RAM myself), or will 1 GB be
sufficient for the light use I'm intending for this machine? (I noticed in
the WIN 7 specifications that 1 GB is the minimum.)

Most of the PCs I'm looking at with have a serial port as well (which is
one of my criterion for considering these units) - that will make my life
much easier with the old TNCs I have :-)

To sum up, which OS should I choose, Win 7 Home Premium 32-bit, or Home
Premium (64-bit)?

Tnx es 73

Philip N4HF