> On Nov 24, 2024, at 8:05 AM, Bayswater via groups.io <Bayswater@...> wrote:
>
> Randy, thanks for clarifying the current discussion on drive options with the new M4.? Perhaps you could comment on another detail of the debate.? We hear that although you can boot from an external TB drive, there are many applications that will only run if installed on the internal drive.? I don’t know it that means these apps have to be installed on both drives, or that they will only run from the copy on the internal drive, or if this is simply not true.? This becomes a consideration for those who want to avoid the Apple price for internal storage and are looking at much less expensive external options.??


I don’t know if any of the included Apple apps have to be in the Applications folder on the boot drive.? I haven’t tested this.

I HAVE run across ONE third party application that didn’t work if it was located outside the Applications folder on the boot drive.? So, they exist, but I don’t know how common they are.

I haven’t heard anyone say that any application specifically has to be installed on the INTERNAL drive, even if its not the boot drive.? Though I have repeatedly heard that Apple Intelligence will only work if it is on the internal drive.? I can’t tell you if that is strictly true or not.

See:

Install Mac Apps on External Storage in macOS Sequoia


How To Install Apps On External Hard Drive Mac



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Randy B. Singer
Co-author of The Macintosh Bible (4th, 5th, and 6th editions)

Essential But Hard To Find Macintosh Software and Advice

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