Well, Steve started with the mouse, and so will we. Apple's got a new mouse, but you probably knew that already. It's based on the same Hewlett-Packard optical technology used in Microsoft's IntelliMouse Explorer, but you probably knew that too. Other things you already know: it's not wireless, it's not round, and it's got no buttons. But there are a few things about the Apple Pro Mouse that you may not know. For one thing, its casing is totally clear, so the bright red LED that gives the mouse its tracking ability glows visibly when it's in use. For another, it's not only going to be included with every Apple desktop Mac, but it's also going to be sold separately for $59. And one last thing you may not have known: we just got ours for free.

Okay, so you probably did know that last little tidbit-- or at least you could have inferred it from the widely reported fact that Apple gave every attendee of Uncle Steve's keynote presentation a free Pro Mouse just to be cool. Or perhaps it was a gesture of contrition for having unleashed the Puck upon an unsuspecting world in the first place; we couldn't say for certain. What we can say, though, is that each of the AtAT staff in attendance got a Pro Mouse upon leaving the hall-- and did we mention that (apart from the $195 spent to get into the keynote in the first place) it was completely, utterly, and fantastically free? Not to rub your noses in it, of course; we're just telling it like it is, figuring you'd like as much data about the keynote as possible. We'll try to stop mentioning it now. After all, while it may well have been the highlight of the event, there's certainly no reason to keep reminding you of the fact. We'll stop now.

We got free mousies and you didn't.

Whoops-- sorry about that, but we're just a little excited. The thing is, just a few hours before, we were slapping ourselves for forgetting to pack a mouse, because producing a full episode of AtAT on an iBook while relying entirely on the trackpad is kind of like cleaning your teeth with a popsicle stick: you can probably do it, but it'll take a really long time and it won't be a very pleasant process. We had fully planned on buying the cheapest USB mouse we could find once we got on the show floor-- but by the end of the keynote, it turned out we didn't have to. Due to the, er, "gratis nature" of the gorgeous Pro Mouse we're using right this second.

Oops-- we did it again. Soon you'll get the feeling that we're gloating or something. Nothing could be farther from the truth, honestly! It's just that we're so thrilled about this new mouse and its bevy of excellent features, such as its unique buttonless design, the twist-dial click sensitivity setting, the full ring of what we suspect to be oh-so-smooth Teflon protecting its base, and the fact that it was really, really, free. We may have mentioned that before, however.

Anyway, after using this thing for a bit, we can honestly say it's a very nice mouse; it fits the hand comfortably, the click action is really solid, the optical tracking technology even works on shag carpeting, and the eerie red glow is a welcome distraction when you really should be getting some work done. Our recommendation? If you hated the Puck (or even if you didn't), give the Pro Mouse a try. It's slick, solid, gorgeous, and worth picking up.

Even if yours isn't free.

Now, about these new iMacs-- you must trust us when we tell you that we have never before heard (and reflexively participated in) such a spontaneous outburst of incredulous obscenities as when Steve Jobs announced that the new entry-level iMac would cost a mere $799. (And considering that we were present when Steve broke the news of Apple's new "partnership" with Microsoft back in 1997, that's really saying something.) Basically, when the $799 price was announced, three out of every four sentient creatures in that conference hall simultaneously shouted the word "holy" followed by any of several scatological and/or copulatory four-letter words that are unfit for broadcast on a PG show such as this one. In other words, we were floored.

But was that the real news when it comes to the iMac line? Nope. Was it the fact that customers can now buy an iMac DV capable of running (and preloaded with) the tasty new iMovie 2 for a mere $999, setting the entry point to desktop video at a staggering new low? Uh-uh. How about the revelation that Apple's willing to dilute the iMac line still further by adding a $1299 "DV+" model to its family? Wrong again. See, the real news is that iMac flavors aren't actually flavors anymore.

Well, not fruit flavors, at least-- and frankly, we should have seen it coming as soon as Graphite got added to the mix. With the exception of that notably popular (lack of) hue, Apple has completely replaced its iMac color wheel with new shades that are generally less saturated, deeper, more understated, and completely unrelated to fruit of any kind. The new five colors in the lineup are: Indigo (a deep purplish blue), Ruby (a hefty red without a hint of the Barbie chic overflowing in Strawberry), Sage (a gorgeous grey-green; the color of aliens' skin on Steve's home planet), Snow (Ice all over, but whiter), and the ever-lovin' Graphite. The new colors are classy as all get-out; "refined," as King Steve says. What does it all mean to you? Better start saving for a new iMac, because these things look nice. What's it mean to us? That we have four more themes to add to our Preferences when we get back to the studio. The work never ends...

So, uh, how about that Cube? At least some of the rumors were correct, and believe us-- until you see this thing up close and personal, you're not going to appreciate just how neat it really is. Why? Because you're not going to appreciate how small it really is. Apple's lab geniuses apparently continue to tinker with dangerous and exciting technologies such as cloning (no, not that cloning), because the G4 Cube is every bit as powerful and gorgeous as the Power Mac G4-- but a mere fraction of the size.

Check it out: viewed from the front, the Cube is smaller than a standard sheet of 8.5x11" paper. No joke. We just placed our "actual size" Cube poster on the floor and were able to cover the Cube completely with a plain sheet of letter-sized printer paper. So if you've got limited desktop space (or you're the type of person who collects trial-size shampoo bottles because they're so gosh-darned cute) you are going to love this thing.

And, of course, there are more reasons to love it than its size; what you should really be admiring is its density. We're sure you've already pored over the specs umpteen times, so you're aware that the standard $1799 Cube packs every bit as much power as the current-until-today Power Mac G4/450. But to do it in such a small space? Lots of gear in a compact form; it's like the Swiss Army Knife of the Mac world-- especially since it doubles as a toaster (when it ejects CDs from its top-loading DVD-ROM drive) and a lunchbox (when its nifty handle is popped out and the Cube's guts are being hoisted out of its stand). Okay, so Swiss Army Knives don't have toasters and lunchboxes built in. We were trying to make a point about lots of functionality in a compact, efficient package, but obviously it went nowhere.

We pretty much always walk out of a Stevenote with an RDF-induced respect and admiration for Apple's mission to bridge the gap between art and technology. This time, though, there was also a three-word directive imprinted indelibly in our frontal lobes: BUY A CUBE. We're doing our best to fight it, but the little guy's tenacious. And it's not like we'd have a lot to carry home...