SDD Input

SSDs do cost more per GB than HDDs but the difference in performance more than makes up for the higher price. The main performance gains are in reduced boot time, reduced time to open programs, and reduced times for accessing and saving data files. especially large ones. Laptops benefit from reduced operating temperature and increased battery life due to reduced power demands. However, for storing large amounts of data, HDDs still rule.

As others here have said, I will never have another PC that doesn't at least have an SSD for the operating system and programs. My desktop rig has a 128GB Samsung 840 Pro for the OS and programs; my data is stored on two 2TB HDDs and one 4TB HDD. Since my two notebooks only have room for only one drive in each one, I put a 500GB Samsung 840 EVO in each one for the OS, programs, and data storage (my data storage needs are much lower in my notebooks). I just bought another notebook and, if I can't get the Wi-Fi fixed on my oldest notebook, I'll move SSD in the oldest one to the newest one; otherwise, I'll get a new SSD for the newest notebook.

With imaging you can very easily do what you want to do. And if you want to do it in 3 clicks, use this program:

Paragon Migrate OS to SSD - System migration to Solid State Drives (SSD) - Overview

Even easier and more reliable (in my experience), not to mention free, is to use Macrium Reflect Free (here is a good tutorial on how to use Macrium Reflect). If transferring the entire HDD to the SSD, cloning is easier, faster, and doesn't require an intermediate drive like imaging does. If transferring only a couple of partitions on the HDD, but not the entire HDD, to the SSD, then imaging would be required. If there is enough room on the HDD, the image can be stashed there, then used to "restore" to the SDD. Otherwise, an intermediate drive will be needed to hold the image.

Well I'm not sure what challenges you're describing exactly but imaging a drive to another similar size or larger drive is about as easy as easy gets. Yes Acronis will clone/image a drive.

1. Could I use an external SSD, via USB as my main drive?

Yes that's possible but not simple. See here.

Is cloning and imaging the same? If not which is better to use going from HDD to SSD?

It's not the same. Use Imaging.