It seems that the SD card slot in the new MacBook Pros does count as a bootable device; all you have to do is install OS X onto a card, set it as the default boot device, and you’re good to go. Why would you want to do this ridiculous thing? The idea is you could boot from it to address emergent hard drive failure, data corruption, or viral attack. Just kidding about that last one.
I don’t know, though. In my experience, Macs generally only fail suddenly and cataclysmically, as in the case of my brother’s MacBook, which shut down in the middle of playing a song, and never woke back up again. You never have a chance to preempt problems because OS X is so good at hiding them.
Can I install Mac OS X on an SD storage device and use it as a startup volume?
Yes. Change the default partition table to GUID using Disk Utility, and format the card to use the Mac OS Extended file format to do so.
I’m hoping they add a startup key — like holding the mouse button on startup to eject a stuck CD — for booting from the SD. It makes a lot more sense that way.
[via Apple Insider]
Also useful for dual-booting Windows 7 without having to reduce the storage available on the main drive for the mac side of the computer. This actually is a big selling point for me.
If OSX is installed on the SD-card, the boot could take less time than booting from the hard disk (like SSD) ? I’m wrong ?
Um, slightly shorter SD card standard so it will fit flush, plz?
Yeah, please ALL manufactures change the size of your cards so it conforms to Apple’s implementation of an SD card slot.
How about Apple change the position of the slot, so it fits flush, like in EVERY OTHER SD SLOT ON EARTH?
um… holding alt will give you boot menu so you can choose boot disk.
I thought about using a MicroSD card inside of a full-size adaptor, then cutting down the adaptor so it would fit flush in my MacBook. I just have to find an adaptor that has the space to cut off.