I don't think that price ($499) includes a monitor.
Correct. The price doesn't include monitor, keyboard or mouse.
The assumption is that you have one laying around from the PC you are upgrading from
Nope, it doesn't. The idea is that most people already own a perfectly good monitor, because practically everybody has bought some kind of computer at some point in the recent past.
If you don't, you can always just pick up something cheap at Wal-Mart or your local bargain-basement computer parts store.
Know nothing about Macs, but this is pretty cool
It's even cooler when you realize that it's about the same size as a hardback book and almost perfectly silent. No more huge, whirring PC tower.
The cost of the built-up system is 1000 bucks.
It does not include a monitor, keyboard or mouse. Nevertheless, it's only 6 inches square by two inches high and would be great in my brief case, with a nice plasma 15 inch monitor and a mouse. I could get some more sales that way, perhaps. Snow them with the small computer and daze them with the screen showing my CD loaded with lustrous products. I can dream anyway...