Run the same Windows 11 VM -- MacBook Pro & Mac Studio

I have an M4 Pro MacBook Pro & an M2 Max Mac Studio, and I would like to be able to run the same Windows 11 VM on either machine, depending on if I am at home or somewhere else. I think this comes down to one of three solutions, but if you have other suggestions I would like to hear about them.

1) external drive

I do not like the external drive option, since it is cumbersome on the MacBook Pro. I do not want wires protruding from the machine when I am using it somewhere remote, nor do I want to support the drive physically, like on a desk, bench or whatnot. Tiny usb-C flash drives don't seem to exist like they did in type-A, but if they do exist and are fast enough I would consider that. From what I have seen, most are just copies of the old fashioned pack-of-gum type, usually even longer because they also have type-A ports on the other side.​

2) SD card

I would prefer to use an SD card, but researching this is hard because every search result talks about using the SD card from within a running VM, and that is not the issue. I just want to know if it is practically fast enough to run a Windows 11 VM, for Solidworks for example. If you do this, how well does it work for you?​

3) iCloud drive/Google Drive for Desktop/similar

Is it technically possible to run a VM from a cloud drive? I sync my documents and desktop folders to iCloud - is it possible to load and run a VM from this folder? Beside technical limitations -- if they exist -- are there other factors to consider? What about Google Drive for Desktop? I have a 2TB limit and this would be the most ideal place to store a VM. I don't have that much in iCloud.​

 

I know this is a somewhat dated post, but I am in the same boat as you. My PC laptop died, which I used to VPN into my office. Once in, I would remote desktop to my work PC if I needed something specific that was Local on my main PC, or just use the resources - Office, Shared Drive, Printers that were available on my remote PC when I was tunneled in. I have a Mac Studio in my office, along side my PC desktop which for the past couple of years I have used a KVM switch to jump between the two machines.
I am considering picking up a M4 Pro and was thinking about running a shared VM, just like you asked. What, if anything, have you figured out?
My thoughts were running the VM on the M4 Pro so that I could VPN to the desktop. Or running a second VM on my Studio and eliminating the work PC all together.

 

I would use the target mode. You start your MBP in target while connected with a TB cable to your desktop mac. It will be seen as an external drive. Just launch the VM. The only annoying thing is the target mode is not as easy on apple silicon as it was before