Analysts: Apple Tablet To Appear March/April 2010

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Apple’s long-rumored and much-discussed tablet will appear in March or April 2010 with a 10.1-inch screen and a $1,000 price tag, according to an analyst. In what has become a cottage industry, Oppenheimer’s Yair Reiner told investors production will begin in February.

“The manufacturing cogs for the tablet are creaking into action and should begin to hit a mass market stride in February,” noted Yair, citing “supply chain” checks. Such a timetable would put a product launch in March or April.

Another analyst appears to echo that expectation while also providing more details on the tablet’s hardware.

The tablet could include 64GB and ship in the March quarter, ThinkEquity analyst Vijay Rakesh told clients Wednesday. Apple could build 1 million to 3 million tablets between February and March with 8 million to 10 million for calendar year 2010, according to the report.

The report also claimed the tablet would include a 10.1-inch multi-touch LTPS LCD display and not OLED technology, which some reported could delay production until late 2010. Other analysts have suggested a 10-inch to 12-inch display with “stunning graphics.”

Apple is aiming for 1 million units per month, according to the analyst.

Yair’s claim is the latest attempt to predict when an Apple tablet will appear. Discussion has ranged from early 2010 to late next year.

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The analyst also told clients Apple is turning to publishers with what he termed “a very attractive proposal” for making content available on the device. Hoping to persuade some publishers upset at Amazon’s 50/50 revenue split for the Kindle, Cupertino is offering 30/70 in favor of content providers, according to Yair. The analyst said Amazon requires exclusivity for such a revenue division.

Recently, a number of publishers have formed alliances, hoping to both create content suitable for the new e-readers, as well as prevent Apple dictating the terms in a digital world.

[Via AppleInsider and 9to5Mac]

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Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.

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http://www.toxicspark.com Andrew Macdonald
I cant wait for the Apple Tablet to come out. Ill be the first person in the waiting line to get one, regardless of the price.
http://www.grinningidiot.com JAYnLA
Hmmm. I think a thousand bucks is too much for this hypothetical device. I’d hold off, and that’s not a good sign — I’m usually a ‘buy it the day it comes out’ Apple fan.
iGenius
Sounds like a great form factor. But if I can get content/applications only from Apple, I am not interested.
james braselton
HI THERE I WANT A TOUCH SCREEN IMAC WITH A SSD OPTION FOR HARD CORE GAMING I LIKE SSD FLASH DRIVES FOR GAMING BECUASE OF FASTER GAME PLAY LESS LOAD TIMES AND LESS LAG TIMES TOO AND USES WAY LESS ENERGY TOO
Irene Powch
I can’t believe no one has no one is talking about the one feature I have been searching for to no avail…I would buy the tablet if it did nothing other than this: A screen large enough to view my week comfortably on ical. I just want to replace my paper and leather dayplanner with ical. I don’t want it on a tiny iphone screen. I don’t want to lug around a 4 pound computer. Can we have 2 pounds or less, a half-inch thick, and instant on (as opposed to having to boot up)? If tablet delivers this and nothing else I’m buying it.
Am I the only person on the planet screaming for ical on a screen large enough to really see my entire week in detail, and a gadget as quick to use and carry as my dayplanner?