Which Windows Version?

I just installed Parallels 7on two MBP's. Both are running OSX Lion. One is an '08, 2.4Ghz, 4G Ram, Core Duo, the other is an '11, i7, 2.0Ghz w/8G Ram, both have 500G HD's
Which Windows version (i.e., xP, or 7) would best be suited for tasks such as AutoCad, a Helicopter Training/Flight Simulator, Audio Analysis (not ProTools, just Riedel Director, Shure Workbench, etc.)
32 or 64 bit?

Thanks for any suggestions

...bob...
audio scientist
Nashville, Ya'll

 

For a lot of reasons: Windows 7 64 bits.

You might consider 32 bits on the computer with 4GB RAM, as you won't be able to practically assign more than 2 GB RAM to the VM (the 32bit version uses less RAM, also you only start getting the benefits of 64bit with 4GB or more), but frankly, just upgrade the RAM on that machine to 8 GB, and assign 4 to 6 GB to the VM, run 64bit on it, it's an inexpensive upgrade and it will make a world of a difference for running Parallels and the memory intensive apps you talk about.

 

Thanks

Speciman:
Thanks for the suggestion. The unit with 4G is the older model and I do not think it will take 8G Ram. The i7 is already there. Unfortunately its the Core Duo unit that needs to run the Flight Sim. Sounds like I should maybe get 32 bit for the CoreDuo and 64 for the i7, eh?

 

A 2008 MBP will most likely take 8 GB, in doubt consult this: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade


Edit: I don't vouch for the company in the link, except for the fact they have very useful information about memory and hardrive upgrades for mac hardware, information that Apple is not as interested to share or motivated to update (like late 2007 MBPs can actually take up to 6 GB RAM, 4+2, although Apple still says in their support documents they can only take 4 GB maximum), you can obviously buy the parts elsewhere.

 

nice information.ithink it is helpful to me and others.
thanks a lot