Acer laptop vs. MacBook?

[Tomatos100]

Hello. I am trying to decide between this laptop: http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-V3...productDetails

And this MacBook: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-...ds=MacBook+Air

I want to do a little gaming, and 3D modeling. I could benefit from the extra power of the Acer laptop, but I also want something with a good battery life.

 

[Hero1711]

Hello. I am trying to decide between this laptop: http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-V3...productDetails

And this MacBook: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-...ds=MacBook+Air

I want to do a little gaming, and 3D modeling. I could benefit from the extra power of the Acer laptop, but I also want something with a good battery life.

What is your highest priority? Gaming/3D modeling or long battery life?

If Gaming/3D modeling were your highest priority:
If the Intel HD 5000 provided by the i5-4250U on the Macbook Air could satisfy your gaming/3D modeling needs then go for it.
Else you had to stay with a high powered (also high power consumption) machine.

If long battery life were your highest priority:
Check out the Lenovo Thinkpad X230, with the 9 cell battery + sheet battery it can run up to 23 hours continuously.

 

[Infohawk]

Are you aware that updated MacBooks are probably coming out pretty soon?

Hero177's advice is good. Even as a lifetime PC user, it seems like the only reason to skip a macbook is to you have a specialized need. It seems like you do though.

 

[corkyg]

Another consideration would be if you have existing software. PC and Mac can be two different worlds in that area.

 

[TheStu]

Are you aware that updated MacBooks are probably coming out pretty soon?

Hero177's advice is good. Even as a lifetime PC user, it seems like the only reason to skip a macbook is to you have a specialized need. It seems like you do though.

The MacBook Air that the OP linked to is the latest version. The rest of the lineup has not been updated, you're right.

 

[Zodiark1593]

If you want any sort of gaming capability, and modeling (especially if the software uses CUDA) there is no question that the Acer would be the better of the two, by far.

 

[TheStu]

Those 2 laptops couldn't be more dissimilar... you've got the 13" MacBook Air on one side, running OS X, with 12 hours of battery life and a low power dual core CPU and an SSD.

Then you've got the 17" Acer, running Windows, with 3 hours of battery life, and a full on quad core CPU and a platter drive.

Maybe you need to find something in the middle. Like a 14-15" machine.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Those 2 laptops couldn't be more dissimilar... you've got the 13" MacBook Air on one side, running OS X, with 12 hours of battery life and a low power dual core CPU and an SSD.

Then you've got the 17" Acer, running Windows, with 3 hours of battery life, and a full on quad core CPU and a platter drive.

Maybe you need to find something in the middle. Like a 14-15" machine.

Ehh, within a grand, is there such a machine that still packs a quad core and a GT 750? Maybe there might be something Clevo based, I'll check.

Edit: Since he's considering a Macbook Air, I'm going to assume OP can go a little beyond a grand. Here's my recommendation.
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_info&model_name=NP6652

1820 x 1080 IPS display, quad core cpu, a GT 750M, and 15" to boot. With a machine like that, don't even bother looking at the Acer.