Do simple file transfers work with a Mac?

Actually, the 1040 now uses MTP instead. I recently updated my wife's 1040 and since that I have to use OpenMTP on my Mac to access the 1040 filesystem.

I don't know what they abandoned the older access, but it was always pretty flakey anyway. They never did seem to get it right.

One advantage of MTP is that the device can always be disconnected without a risk of corrupting any files. On USB mass storage devices you always need to take care to eject the device properly to prevent any data corruption. Also it isn't possible to format an MTP device. And yes, I've seen posts of people inadvertently formatting their Garmin device...

I have not been without issues getting Garmin devices to mount as desktop volumes. With MTP I never have an issue connecting to the Garmin from my MacBook Air or Mac Mini. When Garmin used USB Mass Storage it was constant struggle to get the Garmin to mount on the desktop. It was just flaky and troublesome to get it into the right mode. Now that I have OpenMTP working well I prefer it.

macOS doesn't support MTP natively.  Neither does Windows unless you have the mobile phone drivers installed (which doesn't appear to work VMWare Fusion images).

Ten years ago, we used to have "force mass storage mode", but that's about it.  Since the Edge 1030 Plus or so, the Edge units seemed to automatically enter mass storage mode when plugged into a mac.

I never had to fight with Windows to install MTP drivers (which I still don't have working) nor install third-party software on macOS when Garmin supported mass storage mode.  By any measure, MTP is worse than USB storage mode as a user experience.

Also, in MTP mode, the Edge 1050 has an eject button.  So, you're wrong about "auto eject" being supported.  It's not.

hoyhoy said:

So, you're wrong about "auto eject" being supported.  It's not.

I'm neither wrong nor right about that. I didn't make make that claim.

I guess we just have different experience with Garmin support for USB Mass Storage on Macs.I'm fine with MTP, and continued argument for the former protocol seems pointless to me. Maybe you should contact Garmin Support with your concerns.

I've successfully used the Forerunner 305, Edge 810, Edge 1000, Edge 1030, Edge 1030 Plus, and Edge 1040 with Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OS X Leopard (10.5), Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6), Mac OS X Lion (10.7), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8), OS X Mavericks (10.9), OS X Yosemite (10.10), OS X El Capitan (10.11), macOS Sierra (10.12), macOS High Sierra (10.13), macOS Mojave (10.14), macOS Catalina (10.15), macOS Big Sur (11), macOS Monterey (12), macOS Ventura (13), macOS Sonoma (14), and macOS Sequoia (15) with USB Mass Storage.  Every Edge device worked flawlessly without third-party software until the Edge 1050.  No data loss even though I'm sure I failed to eject/unmount my Edge units as well...

So yeah, we have different experiences.  The Edge 1050 doesn't work with any consumer operating system natively and relies on standard that is only used in Android devices and is categorically worse in every way.

Given that there is no way to access the Edge 1050 file system on a Mac without using 3rd party software (a security risk I prefer not to take), is there Garmin software that provides an alternative approach to do the following?
1.  Load new courses

2.  Load new maps

3.  Delete courses (so that the list on Garmin doesn't become too long over time

If there is Garmin software that can do these things that I can accept not having access to the file system.  

Loading courses can be done by importing them into Garmin Connect (web or app) and syncing the Edge 1050 with the Connect app.

Garmin Topo Active maps (replacing the Cycle Maps) can be downloaded from the Map Manager on the device itself, but depending on map region that can take a very long time (hours).

And deleting courses can be done from the device itself as well.

If you have a RideWithGPS account, and you add that as a Connected App to Garmin Connect you can install courses  just by pinning them in RideWithGPS. You can delete courses by unpinning them in RideWithGPS, and deleting them from your list of courses on Garmin. 

I haven't loaded courses by connecting a Garmin to a computer filesystem in years. RideWithGPS pinning is easier and works better, IMO. I've been using that for years.

I can't say about maps. I just use the default maps that are installed by the Garmin Express desktop app.