MBP SD Card Slot Can Boot OSX!!!

donster28 · Jun 10, 2009, 02:06 PM

Just another hidden gem from the new MBPs.

http://i.gizmodo.com/5285969/new-mac...ternal-sd-slot

AdamLikesMusic · Jun 10, 2009, 02:14 PM

Does this mean that rather than partitioning my hard drive, I can put Vista on a SD card and boot it? (I'm a bit tech stupid)

Diode · Jun 10, 2009, 02:17 PM

Yea it's a shame they won't support SDXC cards though :-(

MacModMachine · Jun 10, 2009, 02:24 PM

whats sd....is that like a shrunk down expresscard slot ?

"hides under desk"

iomatic · Jun 10, 2009, 02:27 PM

Already mentioned it. http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost...8&postcount=16

SD sounds awful slow.

RiCEADDiCTBOY · Jun 10, 2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iomatic

Already mentioned it. http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost...8&postcount=16

SD sounds awful slow.

SDHC is wonderful.

MacModMachine · Jun 10, 2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiCEADDiCTBOY

SDHC is wonderful.

ITS SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW not wonderful

harcosparky · Jun 10, 2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamLikesMusic

Does this mean that rather than partitioning my hard drive, I can put Vista on a SD card and boot it? (I'm a bit tech stupid)

Probably not, especially if the SD Card slot is on the USB bus???

Windows does not like booting off of external devices from what I hear. It has to do with how the Windows OS handles them.

I know it doesn't work from the USB ports.

Leo72 · Jun 11, 2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diode

Yea it's a shame they won't support SDXC cards though :-(

Can a firmware solve this matter?

Leo72 · Jun 11, 2009, 01:16 AM

Folks, there is some information about SDXC on this site:
http://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/sdxc

Techhie · Jun 11, 2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo72

Folks, there is some information about SDXC on this site:
http://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/sdxc

It is slow as all hell to boot from, in addition to the fact the new port provides a 32 GB card limit.

fpnc · Jun 11, 2009, 02:13 AM

The existing MacBooks can boot from an SD card under Mac OS X (when using a USB-based card reader). As for speed, I've seen posts where the previous generation MacBook would boot from a class 4 SDHC card in about two minutes, versus about 45 seconds from the MacBook's internal hard drive.

DAMNiatx · Jun 11, 2009, 04:21 AM

hahahahaha, i proud i have express card slot.

Semiopaque · Jun 11, 2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diode

Yea it's a shame they won't support SDXC cards though :-(

True, that really would have changed my perception on it, at least.

L0s7man · Jun 11, 2009, 04:47 AM

Instead of ditching the Expresscard they should have introduced Expresscard 2.0 (specs came out in March). Now, that would be SOMETHING.

shigzeo · Jun 11, 2009, 08:24 AM

i also don't see how this is interesting. osx has always been able to boot off of anything that can hold it, whether my compact flash, a usb drive, firewire, internal/external disks: everything.

zsnow · Jun 11, 2009, 02:01 PM

i'm wondering if i can boot windows xp from the sd.
so i don't have to use my hardware to create a new bootcamp partition.
when i need windows xp, just insert the sd card and boot

MacModMachine · Jun 11, 2009, 02:02 PM

the limited write cycles on sd...wouldent be long before you replace the sd card because its write cycles are used up.

zsnow · Jun 11, 2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacModMachine

the limited write cycles on sd...wouldent be long before you replace the sd card because its write cycles are used up.

i run most windows app from vmware. i just need bootcamp when i can't use vmware like flash the ssd firmware.

AdamLikesMusic · Jun 11, 2009, 02:12 PM

Just read on ifixit that the SD cards don't sit flush. (Says they stick out almost .5") That's a shame. Was hoping I could keep a 16/32gb card in there for added storage.

bugout · Jun 11, 2009, 04:19 PM

I don't know what the big deal is.. you could always boot an intel mac off a usb hard drive or flash drive too..

I have the OS X 10.5.6 dvd imaged on an 8gb usb flash drive and do installs from it all the time.. Its super fast.

KissStephanie · Jun 11, 2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donster28

Just another hidden gem from the new MBPs.

Apple has stated that Leopard can be installed onto an SD card in the new MacBook Pro's. Does anybody know if this is the case with an SD card reader connected to an ExpressCard slot as well?

PSpfano · Jun 11, 2009, 10:39 PM

Apple should of put other ports on there too such as memory stick, sony makes good cameras, do you guys think they can make a sd and memory stick in one port?

nws0291 · Jun 11, 2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSpfano

Apple should of put other ports on there too such as memory stick, sony makes good cameras, do you guys think they can make a sd and memory stick in one port?

Sony is ditching their proprietary memory format because there is no reason for it.

thegoldenmackid · Jun 11, 2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSpfano

Apple should of put other ports on there too such as memory stick, sony makes good cameras, do you guys think they can make a sd and memory stick in one port?

And only Sony uses it. I assume it is PSP_Fan_O?

Jun 10, 2009, 02:06 PM	#1
donster28 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada	MBP SD Card Slot Can Boot OSX!!! Just another hidden gem from the new MBPs. http://i.gizmodo.com/5285969/new-mac...ternal-sd-slot
	0

Jun 10, 2009, 02:14 PM	#2
AdamLikesMusic macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2009	Does this mean that rather than partitioning my hard drive, I can put Vista on a SD card and boot it? (I'm a bit tech stupid) __________________ MacBook Pro 13" 2.26GHz 250GB 2GB iMac 17" White Poly 2.13GHz 250GB 2GB iPhone 3gs 16GB iPod Touch 1st Gen 8GB
	0

Jun 10, 2009, 02:17 PM	#3
Diode macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington DC	Yea it's a shame they won't support SDXC cards though :-( __________________ 16GB iPhone 4; 2.4 GHZ C2D iMac 4GB Ram; 32GB iPad2; AppleTV2
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 04:21 AM	#13
DAMNiatx macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2009	hahahahaha, i proud i have express card slot. __________________ My iPhone Application: Potretr
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 08:24 AM	#16
shigzeo macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Japan	i also don't see how this is interesting. osx has always been able to boot off of anything that can hold it, whether my compact flash, a usb drive, firewire, internal/external disks: everything. __________________ TouchMyApps All Things iPhone for Those Who Like to Touch Ω image - headphone and desktop audio photography
	0

Jun 10, 2009, 02:24 PM	#4
MacModMachine macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada	whats sd....is that like a shrunk down expresscard slot ? "hides under desk"
	0

Jun 10, 2009, 02:27 PM	#5
iomatic macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2004	Already mentioned it. http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost...8&postcount=16 SD sounds awful slow.
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 01:16 AM	#10
Leo72 macrumors member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ankara, Turkey	Folks, there is some information about SDXC on this site: http://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/sdxc
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 02:13 AM	#12
fpnc macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Diego, CA	The existing MacBooks can boot from an SD card under Mac OS X (when using a USB-based card reader). As for speed, I've seen posts where the previous generation MacBook would boot from a class 4 SDHC card in about two minutes, versus about 45 seconds from the MacBook's internal hard drive.
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 04:47 AM	#15
L0s7man macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2009	Instead of ditching the Expresscard they should have introduced Expresscard 2.0 (specs came out in March). Now, that would be SOMETHING.
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 02:01 PM	#17
zsnow macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2009	i'm wondering if i can boot windows xp from the sd. so i don't have to use my hardware to create a new bootcamp partition. when i need windows xp, just insert the sd card and boot __________________ 13'3 uMBP2.26 GHz 128GB Falcon SSD 4GRAM
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 02:02 PM	#18
MacModMachine macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada	the limited write cycles on sd...wouldent be long before you replace the sd card because its write cycles are used up.
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 02:12 PM	#20
AdamLikesMusic macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2009	Just read on ifixit that the SD cards don't sit flush. (Says they stick out almost .5") That's a shame. Was hoping I could keep a 16/32gb card in there for added storage. __________________ MacBook Pro 13" 2.26GHz 250GB 2GB iMac 17" White Poly 2.13GHz 250GB 2GB iPhone 3gs 16GB iPod Touch 1st Gen 8GB
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 04:19 PM	#21
bugout macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hudson Valley, NY	I don't know what the big deal is.. you could always boot an intel mac off a usb hard drive or flash drive too.. I have the OS X 10.5.6 dvd imaged on an 8gb usb flash drive and do installs from it all the time.. Its super fast.
	0

Jun 11, 2009, 10:39 PM	#23
PSpfano macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado	This is weak Apple should of put other ports on there too such as memory stick, sony makes good cameras, do you guys think they can make a sd and memory stick in one port?
	0

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