What do you think of my plan for Big Sur

[bige12]

When Betas of new Mac OS come out I try and put them on a external hard drive to test it so I do mess up my current drive. So my plan is like when the Big Sur GM version when the build number ends in a A i might try and put it on my current drive maybe like after a week

 

[sdf]

Good idea, but the other way around might be better. After all, how do you unplug the internal drive so Big Sur can't touch it?

 

[honestone33]

Installing it on an external drive at first is an excellent idea.. That is what I will do, although I'll wait until the .1 version is released. But because I require all my third party software to be compatible with an OS, I will (most likely) not install Big Sur on the internal SSDs for each of my Macs until either the .3 or .4 version comes out. That is typically the time when a version of Tech Tool Pro will be available (that is always the last of my third party apps to have a version ready).

None of that is an issue for me, as 1) I can still test Big Sur on my external SSD, 2) Catalina runs just fine, 3) there is nothing earth shattering in Big Sur that I must have, and 4) I can be on the sidelines reading about all the experiences folks are having with Big Sur, and thus be well prepared when I finally do "upgrade" (will do a clean, fresh installation of OS 11.3 or 11.4).

 

[matram]

By now we are close to the GM. I do not see the point of installing to a separate drive this late in the beta cycle.

If you are concerned for stability why not just wait for the official 11.0 release.

I have been running the developer beta since beta 1 without any issues. For me it has been much more stable than Catalina was.

 

[bige12]

Good idea, but the other way around might be better. After all, how do you unplug the internal drive so Big Sur can't touch it?

I just made it install straight to the external hard drive

 

[bige12]

We are actually closer to GM build of iOS 14 since iOS 14 is in Beta 8 and the build number ends in a A, Mac OS Big Sur is only in Beta 6 and the since the build number ends in a E so we do have couple more beta for Big Sur maybe like 3 more betas than the GM build

 

[sdf]

I just made it install straight to the external hard drive

Sure, but Big Sur will touch your Catalina partition that way.

(Not a problem if you've got a good backup it doesn't touch.)

 

[bige12]

I do did not have catalinia installed on the external hard drive and its been working just fine.

 

[honestone33]

For me, Catalina will still be installed on my Mac Mini, but Big Sur (along with my applications, updated as much as possible) will be installed all by itself on an external Samsung SSD. Booting from that external SSD will allow Big Sur to just work by itself, without "touching" Catalina.

 

[bige12]

For me, Catalina will still be installed on my Mac Mini, but Big Sur (along with my applications, updated as much as possible) will be installed all by itself on an external Samsung SSD. Booting from that external SSD will allow Big Sur to just work by itself, without "touching" Catalina.

That is how I have but I don't have it one a SSD I wish I did but I just have it one a little old fashion USB external hard which is like 4 TB its kind of slow some times so I can't wait for Big Sur to come

 

[honestone33]

That is how I have but I don't have it one a SSD I wish I did but I just have it one a little old fashion USB external hard which is like 4 TB its kind of slow some times so I can't wait for Big Sur to come

For testing purposes, although somewhat slow, that is still the way to go before you install Big Sur on your Mac. Also, don't forget about third party software compatibility.