Folks, we know that you're in crisis, here-- and really, who wouldn't be? Now that you've ordered a $499 Mac mini (hey, at that price, who hasn't?) and it comes without a mouse, keyboard, or display, you're at a loss as to which mouse, keyboard, and display to order to go with it. Sure, Apple left out those vital peripherals primarily so that Wintel users could keep costs down by reusing their existing gear, but as a Mac user who does need new ones to go along with your new mini purchase, somehow finally not being stuck with the standard see-thru "pro" keyboard and no-button mouse is such an unaccustomed dose of freedom that it seems practically criminal to do something as unimaginative as pay $58 for the exact same input devices you're no longer stuck with in the first place. Heck, even adding $99 to your order for the wireless Bluetooth versions strikes you as too conventional a choice-- and, considering how little you're paying for the Mac mini itself, too cheap.

So now that you aren't saddled with the grind of eBaying off an unwanted Apple mouse and keyboard and you have, at last count, gazillions of choices as to which input devices and display to get for your mini, what are you going to do? Simple: take some of that cash you saved by purchasing a super-cheap Mac mini and blow it on some super-stylin' peripherals worthy of its snazzy design. Faithful viewer Lisa Boucher forwarded us a link to Wood Contour, a company selling "an exquisite line of fully functional, solid wood and stone peripherals, designed for the non-compromising among us." And who's more non-compromising than Mac users, right? So go ahead: order a keyboard, mouse and 17-inch LCD monitor all lovingly crafted in the wood of your choice. A set made of a more pedestrian wood like beech or maple runs a mere $5,800; at that price, why not get two? Or you can upgrade to something like ash or Honduras Palisander for $6,950. Step up to Boise de Rose (it's French, so you know it's classy) for $7,950. And finally, a Class 4 wood like willow or sycamore runs $8,950.

Wood not your bag? Then how about stone? Sadly, Wood Contours's "stone" peripherals are not chiseled from a single block o' rock, but instead are "constructed from the warm and inviting elegance of Corian®," which is apparently a DuPont material commonly used in bathtubs and countertops and that can look a lot like stone. True, that doesn't sound nearly as classy as hand-tooled wood, but consider the benefits: for one thing, you can get a keyboard/mouse/display set done up in any of dozens of faux stone colors, and no matter which you choose, you pay the low, low price of just $8,100. Better yet, unlike with the wood products, that $8,100 includes your choice of a 17-inch or 19-inch display. (Since there's apparently no price difference, try not to think too hard about which one you'd prefer.) And best of all, the stone peripherals come "skillfully engraved with your company's logo via laser technology," so if you don't have a logo, we suggest you come up with one in a hurry, because getting the design of your choice etched right into your desktop I/O devices is just too cool to pass up. If nothing else, you can always tell 'em you work for Apple.

So let's recap: $499 computer; $9,000 I/O peripherals. Now that's style, baby. It's not the ideal setup, of course, but until Shreve Crump & Lowe offers devices in diamond-studded platinum, it'll have to do. Maybe you can order one of the wood kits and class it up a little with a Bedazzler.