USB3 would be a far cheaper alternative, and just as fast.

For " use a memory stick" I guess that means something like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lexar-Jumpdrive-Flash-Drive-...
Please tell me if I am wrong.

Yup, that's the gadget. I normally use Kingston devices (like these), but any good-quality one will do (reliability is a distinct advantage!).
***********************************************

I have tried searching web for a reliable 16GB Flash drive with USB 3.0, BUT with poor results.

Reviews on Amazon are depressing. For example:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2KLRRO17RPRAY/ref=cm...

Are there any recommendations for a reliable USB 3.0 flash drive?

There is no point going to the trouble of getting a flash drive for creating a backup if it may not work when needed.

Can't help on that- I've only got one device that can handle USB3 (this iMac) so I haven't bothered with it for Flash drives.

My thoughts are that, whilst speed is nice to have, for a backup Flash drive reliability is far more important and I'd stick with USB2- it's been around a lot longer!

There'll be an initial time penalty for the first complete backup, but for incremental ones after that the increased time involved isn't worth worrying about.

My thoughts are that, whilst speed is nice to have, for a backup Flash drive reliability is far more important and I'd stick with USB2- it's been around a lot longer!

Thanks for good advice - I now have a Kingston 16 GB Flash Drive - USB 2.0.
The MBP is now on OSX 10.8.5.
I have still not worked out how to use the Flash Drive as a tool for restoring OSX, in spite of trying to use the following:

Can't help with CarbonCopyCloner or superduper but the usual way is to use a memory stick as a boot device then use Migration Assistant to restore from backup. (edit-Assuming the backup is on a Time Machine drive)
Instructions
http://www.macworld.com/article/1167857/how_to_make_...

Those Instructions seem to assume there is an OSX Install package on the MBP.
There is no such package as far as I can see.
I guess that article has not yet been updated to deal with current MBPs.

Mean time I would have to rely on restore from Time Machine, which I have started to use and find A1.
Just connect the MBP to the LaCie hard drive once a week and 5 minutes later - job done!

Thanks for all the contributions.

In reply to a post by DIOGENES:

Those Instructions seem to assume there is an OSX Install package on the MBP.
There is no such package as far as I can see.

No, there isn't- what you need to do is to shut the MBP down, insert the Flash drive, switch it on again and immediately hold the "Option" key down. This should bring up the Startup Manager- select the Flash drive and boot from that. See here. Then you can do a full re-install or use other utilities from the menu bar.

Mean time I would have to rely on restore from Time Machine, which I have started to use and find A1.
Just connect the MBP to the LaCie hard drive once a week and 5 minutes later - job done!

Time Machine is a boon and a blessing, it's got me out of a hole on more than one occasion

In reply to a post by DIOGENES:
Those Instructions seem to assume there is an OSX Install package on the MBP.
There is no such package as far as I can see.

No, there isn't- what you need to do is to shut the MBP down, insert the Flash drive, switch it on again and immediately hold the "Option" key down. This should bring up the Startup Manager- select the Flash drive and boot from that. See here.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1310?viewlocale=en_US&...
Then you can do a full re-install or use other utilities from the menu bar.

Thanks - but I still have an empty Flash Drive.
How do I get OSX and any necessary supporting software on to the Flash Drive?
Where does that come from?

In reply to a post by DIOGENES:

Thanks - but I still have an empty Flash Drive.
How do I get OSX and any necessary supporting software on to the Flash Drive?
Where does that come from?

I can't understand what you've done (or, more accurately, haven't done)

You should have downloaded the Mountain Lion installer from the App Store (click "OS X Mountain Lion" from the Quick Links box on the right of the main page, this article¹ may also help), but not run it, then followed the instructions in the "Create the Mountain Lion install drive" in the article I linked to earlier.

You should then have a bootable Flash drive.

Is that not what you did?



¹It may be slightly out of date- if it detects you already have Mountain Lion it now gives you the option of updating or re-downloading the whole thing again).