Barclays Capital Analyst Ben Reitzes wrote in a note to investors — as reported by “Forbes” (http://blogs.forbes.com/briancaulfield/2010/12/08/subsidized-ipads-sizzle-but-mac-sales-could-steal-show/?partner=yahootix) — that he expects Mac unit sales to surge 16% for the quarter ending in December, compared to the same period a year-ago.
Apple, meanwhile, seems to be preparing for the launch of the iPad 2 by the end of the first quarter of 2011. This could limit how much iPad inventory Apple wants to have on hand going into next year, says Reitzes.