Running Mac OS from a flash drive.

[AudioDoctor]

I don't think that would be much faster as it would be at USB 2.0 speeds. Is that the model iMac that requires screen removal to replace the drive?

[AudioDoctor]

If you don't want to do the job yourself, I think it is worth bringing it someplace to let them upgrade the HDD to an SSD. I have a 2011 Mini here still, running Linux, that runs just fine with light loads on its SSD.

[AudioDoctor]

1 hour ago, semente said:

 

It it the one with the glued-on screen.

 

I would be probably buy a SanDisk USB3 150MB/s flash drive:

 

https://www.westerndigital.com/en-gb/products/usb-flash-drives/sandisk-ultra-flair-usb-3-0

 

 

As it is, it's very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, extremely slow...

 

I have a Sandisk USB 3.0 drive and I tried running Ubuntu from it on the 2011 mac mini and it was painfully slow.

[AudioDoctor]

1 hour ago, semente said:

 

That's bad news. Maybe I need a more modern iMac...

 

The M1 is a pretty good chip. You couldnt really go wrong with one. Apple is rumored to be coming out with a 27 inch iMac as well early next year.

[AudioDoctor]

8 hours ago, semente said:

 

The last new Mac I bought was the PowerMac G5. After that I have decided I would only buy used, and at less than £500. But this move to a different architecture has made Intel Macs semi-obsolete...

 

Perhaps a good deal on an M1 mini is right for you?

[AudioDoctor]

2 hours ago, semente said:

but I'd hate to ditch a perfectly good machine with a nice 27" display. What a waste...

 

I understand that as well. I still use a 2011 Mac Mini around the house for various duties that it can still do just fine just for this purpose.