New iMacs? New Mac minis? New 17-inch MacBook Pros? New Cinema Displays? New Mac Pros? iLife and iWork '09? A Mac media server? A Mac anti-grav machine? We'll see.

However, I must admit that getting to San Francisco was not easy -- and that's an understatement. On Sunday, Jan. 3, I traveled from Nashville to St. Louis, then from St. Louis to San Francisco (flight AA1049) via American Airlines. I had to check through a special carrying case (the iLugger) packed with a 24-inch Samsung display I planned to use to cover the trade show. I checked it in rather than carrying it aboard at the insistence of American Airlines personnel (though the iLugger has always been carry-on size before -- I think they just wanted another 15 bucks in check-in fees). I told them what was in it and to mark it as fragile.

The iLugger wasn't locked. However, apparently, the TSA opened and investigated the case rather roughly. I have no problem with them doing their job. However, when I got to my hotel and unpacked, I found the casing of the display cracked and the bottom stand damaged. If it conks out, I'll have to replace the monitor to cover the show -- or try to work 12 hours a day on my 13-inch MacBook (which I could do when I was in my 20s, 30s and 40s; in my 50s, I dunno). I contacted American Airlines about the situation and they said to contact the TSA if there was a note from your agency inside a package and that the TSA, not American Airlines, was responsible for any damages. I figure that TSA will blame American Airlines.

However, once I arrived I had a nice afternoon with my old friend, Kevin O'Connor. We did some touring, walked about Sausalito and had some fine burgers at In-N-Out, a local (and growing) burger joint at which I had never eaten in all my trips to San Franisco to cover Macworld.

I'll need the energy. Today we're really off and running...

Dennis' note: the "Reporter's Notebook," which always runs during the Macworld Conference & Expo, is a series of observations about the show, San Francisco, etc., and is designed to give readers a "feel" of what it's like to be here. If you're looking for my usual editorial comments, they'll return next week..