Apple to begin Mac tablet production in early 2010
Got a mobile itch that you just can’t scratch? Well, the latest rumors posit that the Cupertino, California-based Mac, iPhone, iPod and — very, very soon — tablet maker has been spotted out and about schilling the iSlate (nay, iPod touch on steroids) to book publishers, who in turn say launch will come before WWDC 2010.
Quoting Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner, MarketWatch claims that Apple will ramp production of the long-rumored, yet never seen Mac tablet in February with the notion of shipping and selling an LCD-based product in late March or early April.
Further, Reiner says Apple has begun to reach out to book publishers to distribute their books with Apple getting 30 percent and publisher 70 percent, which compares very favorably with Amazon’s 50-50 terms.
From the mouths of babes…
Interestingly, Reiner estimates the tablet could contribute 25 to 38 cents of incremental earnings per share per quarter, assuming 1 to 1.5 million units are sold at an average price of $1,000 and a 22 percent margin—the current rumor consensus has pegged the Apple tablet at an ‘unbelievably low’ $600. Like the rest of us, I assume Reiner’s just grabbing numbers out of the air, so don’t put to much stock in either his guestimate or rumors from other sources.
Have you reserved space on one (or more) of you credit cards for the next insanely great thing from Apple? I’m thinking of taking a second mortgage on the kids…
What’s your take?
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December 13th, 2009
It’s got to be around the $600 mark to be a big hit.