Tokyo Outsider (337ppm)Mar 7

I've been thinking I need to try out and switch to #Linux when I replace my current Win 10 laptop.

But I was just reading about how to set up dual boot and it occurred to me: Why don't I start now, running the flavours of Linux I want to try off of external storage? 🤔

If I did that, would I be able to transfer the existing Linux install off of the external USB/SSD to a bootable partition in the future?

Anyone know?

Show threadTokyo Outsider (337ppm)Mar 7

(Approaching it this way would actually be better, if it works, because if the hardware in the aging laptop fails, my OS would be on the external drive.

The challenge would be how to back up the external drive in the meantime.

Now fast, higher capacity drives are available, maybe I should always just do this 🤔 Aside from access speed, is there any downside?)

Show threadscrewlispMar 7

@tokyo_0 I have always been very happy doing this. One pickle is that what as time claimed my computers became my main one only had two usb drives, and that meant the os took one of them.

An sbc is, I guess, within a factor of ten of the drive you would want, if you don't need a lot of space. So why not just use an sbc?

Show threadTokyo Outsider (337ppm)Mar 7
@screwlisp You mean like a Raspberry Pi or something? I kinda want to use the laptop 😅 Did I misunderstand? (That is a good point about the USB ports. I have a big powered USB hub hanging under my desk, but it does need replacing and it seems harder to get them right now.)
Show threadscrewlispMar 7
@tokyo_0 one of my computers runs off usb drives / external harddrives, my recent replacement one is a fancy sbc rig (palmshell rather than raspberry pi) :
Show threadTokyo Outsider (337ppm)
@screwlisp That is an interesting option, for sure. What do you use for a monitor (for the palmshell one)?
Mar 7 at 8:34amWeb
Show threadscrewlispMar 7
@tokyo_0 someone gave this to me, I guess it is an NNW 16".
Show threadTokyo Outsider (337ppm)Mar 7
@screwlisp I don't know what that is - Google doesn't turn up anything either 🤔
Show threadscrewlispMar 7
@tokyo_0 I read the brand name upsidedown, it was MNN
Show threadTokyo Outsider (337ppm)Mar 7
@screwlisp Aha! I found it - thank you ☺️ That's a really interesting idea. I'll definitely give it some thought before splurging on a whole new laptop 👍