Need mini keyboard for Mac similar to Apple A1242

[theorist]

Hi, first post.  I need to replace my no-longer-made Apple A1242 (https://www.amazon.com/Apple-A1242-Standard-Wired-Keyboard/dp/B00EDSQS0G).  Really like the key feel on it.  Just enough travel to get feedback.  Alas, it's been out of production so long that any used ones are suspect.  I did find this thread: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=63028.0 — but it references mostly full-sized keyboards.  Plus I'd like a response tailored to my specific key feel preferences, which hopefully you can intuit from what I've said about the A1242, as well as this additional list of what has and hasn't worked for me:

Apple Wireless Keyboard (generation just proceeding current one, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Wireless_Keyboard#/media/File:Apple-wireless-keyboard-aluminum-2007-side-view.jpg): Didn't like key feel -- not enough travel.

Apple Magic Keyboard (current generation): Even worse (less travel) than Apple Wireless Keyboard.

Keyboard on my mid-2014 MacBook Pro (11,3): Not quite as "positive" as my A1242, but not bad -- something like this would be acceptable, if not ideal.

Apple 1048 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Keyboard#/media/File:Alphanumeric_keyboard.jpg) (distinguished by its clear tray): Haven't used in this one in years, but really liked this keyboard at the time; discontinued.

Matias Laptop Pro:  Have been using this for a couple of weeks.  Too much work/travel to activate keys; hands getting fatigued.  Also don't like that the keys rock.

Possible options (haven't tried these): Logitech K380, K480, or K811

Suggestions?

[Tactile]

Maybe a Cherry ML4100. They use Cherry ML (duh) switches which are low travel, similar to your Apple keyboards. They're out there new & used, black or white, and both with & without windows keys. But I guess you'd need the one with. They're a clever design with an embedded numeric keypad. Anyway...

http://cherryamericas.com/product/g84-4100-miniature-keyboard-2/

[davkol]

Logitech K760 or K811

[Findecanor]

I'm not a fan of Cherry ML switches. Unlike scissor switches, they bind on off-centre key presses and they can be quite scratchy. (I'm not sure if they need to be broken in, if they are sensitive to dust or both)

Are you really sure that A1255/A1314 have different keys than the A1242? It was a while since I tried them, but I always perceived the keys to be identical. I know that some rubber domes can feel different when worn than when they were new.
The A1314 should be very easy to find. I see them all the time on auction sites, either used or NIB.

[theorist]

Are you really sure that A1255/A1314 have different keys than the A1242? It was a while since I tried them, but I always perceived the keys to be identical. I know that some rubber domes can feel different when worn than when they were new.
The A1314 should be very easy to find. I see them all the time on auction sites, either used or NIB.

When I tried the A1255 (I assume it was that variant) in the store I remember feeling that it was different from my A1242 (indeed, I think I even brought the A1242 in for a direct comparison), but that was several years ago and it would be nice to get a definitive answer on this from someone that knows whether the switches are identically sourced.

[theorist]

Logitech K760 or K811

Worth a try, my local Best Buy might have those or the PC equivalent to test.  According to this article from Macworld, the keys on the K811 are a bit mushier than those on the current Apple Magic; but it doesn't say anything about key travel:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2995375/input-devices/apple-magic-keyboard-review-should-have-called-it-basic.html

[theorist]

Maybe a Cherry ML4100. They use Cherry ML (duh) switches which are low travel, similar to your Apple keyboards. They're out there new & used, black or white, and both with & without windows keys. But I guess you'd need the one with. They're a clever design with an embedded numeric keypad. Anyway...

http://cherryamericas.com/product/g84-4100-miniature-keyboard-2/

Read that keyboard is more crowded than standard.  Might still be OK -- I might like the reduced reach.  Main problem is that I'd need to mail order it and return it if I didn't care for it, as I'll be doing with the Matias.  Would prefer one I could try in a store....

[davkol]

Logitech K760 or K811

Worth a try, my local Best Buy might have those or the PC equivalent to test.  According to this article from Macworld, the keys on the K811 are a bit mushier than those on the current Apple Magic; but it doesn't say anything about key travel:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2995375/input-devices/apple-magic-keyboard-review-should-have-called-it-basic.html

Travel should be 3 mm IIRC, but it feels a bit shorter in chiclet boards for some reason compared to K800 or K740. Perhaps it has something to do with the limited space, that amplifies sound a bit more and somehow makes bottoming out a tad bit harsher (although not nearly as harsh as on Apple's boards IME).

Regardless, if there's just one reason to go with Logitech over Apple, it's spherical key tops.

[kingpilcrow]

Razer has new iPad Pro keyboard with low profile mechanical switches.

http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-mechanical-keyboard-case-ipad-pro

[theorist]

Logitech K760 or K811

Worth a try, my local Best Buy might have those or the PC equivalent to test.  According to this article from Macworld, the keys on the K811 are a bit mushier than those on the current Apple Magic; but it doesn't say anything about key travel:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2995375/input-devices/apple-magic-keyboard-review-should-have-called-it-basic.html

Travel should be 3 mm IIRC, but it feels a bit shorter in chiclet boards for some reason compared to K800 or K740.

Thanks.  So would the 3mm make them shorter or longer in travel than Apple's?

[theorist]

Razer has new iPad Pro keyboard with low profile mechanical switches.

http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-mechanical-keyboard-case-ipad-pro

Thanks, but I don't want a keyboard with anything in front of it -- I like to have the front of my keyboard at the edge of my desk, which allows me to drop my forearms and keep my wrists neutral. 

[davkol]

Logitech K760 or K811

Worth a try, my local Best Buy might have those or the PC equivalent to test.  According to this article from Macworld, the keys on the K811 are a bit mushier than those on the current Apple Magic; but it doesn't say anything about key travel:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2995375/input-devices/apple-magic-keyboard-review-should-have-called-it-basic.html

Travel should be 3 mm IIRC, but it feels a bit shorter in chiclet boards for some reason compared to K800 or K740.

Thanks.  So would the 3mm make them shorter or longer in travel than Apple's?

Much longer, but it just feels different.

The Apple Aluminium keyboards generally have a sharp peak and then a harsh impact, whereas Logitech's Easy Stroke and similar scissor switches feel more subtle and "controlled". It's kind of like the difference in keycaps: Apple has them simply flat; OTOH Logitech's chiclet keys appear almost flat too at first sight, but spherical contour is absolutely noticeable, when I type (which is worth mentioning, because different people type differently).