Wayne-
147 is harder to work on than the 149 and 1450. Both the 149 and 147 suffer from the same wear issues with the pin at the front of the driveshaft where it connects to the engine. The 1450 does not have that problem. 1450 has iso-mounts, which I can almost guarantee you'll have to replace to the tune of $100, and perhaps the oil pan if it went too long with bad mounts. 147 and 149 have the hydro control for the left hand, 1450 is for the right. 1450 has a bendix drive starter and an alternator, which I feel makes for better cold-weather starting in my experience. 147 (and the rest of the tractors in that series) have issues with wiring harness deterioration.
In summary, I'd be looking for a 1450. If the engine mounts are done right, they are smooth and quieter than earlier models. I prefer the hydro control in my right hand and steering with my left, but that's just me. I've had a 107 and a 127, and both were a pain to work on. A 149 would probably be my second choice.
<FONT SIZE="-2">IMO, FWIW, YMMV, My $0.02, Yada, Yada, Yada...</FONT>