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.

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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