2012 MBP. Best most recent OS and how to make standalone install.

Hello all.

I was given a 2012 unibody Macbook Pro with a faulty trackpad. It's an i5 with 16gb RAM. Intel graphics.

I plan on using it as a backup PC for when the kids have to take one outside the home, for example. It will need up to date internet experience. I installed Windows 10 through BootCamp, but I also want the OSX experience.

My experience so far after replacing the trackpad and inserting a new 850 EVO SDD

  1. Command-R to install it from zero. It installed Mountain Lion.
  2. Downloaded a Sierra package and used it to update.
  3. Installed Success' href='/2020/12/install-macos-catalina-on-supported-pc.html'>Catalina and updated it.
    • Cannot install adblockers in Safari.
    • Brave and other modern browsers cannot run (need version 11 or more).
    • OCLP and let's try a newer OS.

I'm going for Monterrey this time. I did it some time ago and installed Sequoia. The performance suffered a lot and it always ran really hot. I'm downloading it through my NAS so that I keep a local copy.

My main questions here are:

Is there a way to avoid depending on Apple's servers to reinstall this machines? Once Apple decides to stop hosting these files: Where will I get the right media to reinstall to a new drive?

Same goes for updating: some updates I could download, but others I had to get through the App Store.

I downloaded an ISO of Success' href='/2020/12/install-macos-catalina-on-supported-pc.html'>Catalina from the Internet Archive, but its 15gb won't even fit into a double layer DVD-R.

I'm about to try Monterrey as I write this. I have no other Apple devices, so I won't need the compatibility: I'm only interested in it being able to access the Internet correctly for most cases.

I'd love to get any suggestions. C ya.

Author: @mipial