Is there a need for a recovery partition?

[Ifti]

Why would one need a recovery partition on their startup disc when you can have it on a USB Key or external drive?

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1433

Im moving over to a new SSD once it arrives and am considering keeping my recovery drive on a USB3 Flash Drive (it uses about 650MB) rather then on the actual SSD. Does it make any difference at all, other then convenience?

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Ability to remote wipe if stolen is one good reason.

 

[Ifti]

Ah, so without the recovery partition I'm unable to have the mac in Find My iPhone app on iCloud?

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Not sure about that particular one but I do know that the Recovery Partition contains some of the MDM features now available on the Mac.

 

[Weaselboy]

Ah, so without the recovery partition I'm unable to have the mac in Find My iPhone app on iCloud?

That is correct. With no recovery partition Find My Mac on a Mac will not work. Also, Filevault2 won't work.