A report over at CNNMoney includes bold estimates from renowned Piper Jaffray Senior Analyst Gene Munster who is taking a new stab at Apple’s rumored tablet device with sales estimates and even a mockup of the device.

Yes, Gene Munster believes Apple’s next-gen device will look something like the rendering available to the left (click to enlarge). Not wanting to upset fans of the analyst’s, we’re not going to comment in regard to the image, which isn’t likely to reflect the reality, if Apple even confirms the device in the first place.

“Last week we spoke with an Asian component supplier that has received orders from Apple for a touch-screen device to be fulfilled by late [calendar year] 09,” Munster told clients on Friday. “This data point underscores our thesis that a tablet will likely launch in early [2010].” According to the tech analyst, Apple’s tablet device will boast the following features / characteristics:

 - It will be similar to an iPod touch, only larger, capable of running most of the 70,000 applications on the iPhone App Store plus a new category of apps designed for the bigger screen.
- It will be used primarily for Web surfing, e-mail, and digital media, competing with netbooks without being a netbook.
- It will be priced between an iPhone and a MacBook — between $500 and $700.
Is likely to include a 3G cellular modem and could be subsidized by a carrier — either AT&T (T) or Verizon (VZ).
- It will sell better than Apple TV did its first year (1.2 million units). Could in fact sell 2 million units at $600 each to generate $1.2 billion and add about 3% to Apple’s revenue stream in calendar 2010.

Softpedia note
Given the flurry of predictions that do not fall well with Apple’s statements regarding its lack of interest in the netbook market, we cannot but disagree as well with some of these prognostications. Still, Apple will have the last word. In the meanwhile, let your fingers run loose in the comments.