Noted analyst Gene Munster (of Piper Jaffray) predicts that Apple has a gap to fill between the iPod touch and the MacBook, that gap evidently being the yet-non-confirmed Mac tablet. The device would be priced between the $500-700 range, but wouldn't see the light of day until FY 2010, due to the complexity of the OS it would require.

Munster begins his plea saying, “Between indications from our component contacts in Asia, recent patents relating to multi-touch sensitivity for more complex computing devices, comments from Tim Cook on the April 22nd conference call, and Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi along with other recent chip-related hires, it is increasingly clear that Apple is investing more in its mobile computing franchise.”

“Specifically, we expect this to result in a larger (7″-10″) touchscreen tablet that will launch in 1H CY10,” the analyst asserts. “Additionally, Apple’s consistent message that it refuses to launch a 'cheap' portable netbook, and its desire to differentiate itself in a maturing market before it’s too late (similar to the timing of iPod and iPhone), plus its gradual addition of multi-touch technology to all of its core products (iPhones, iPods and Macs) leads us to conclude this product will be a touchscreen tablet (not a netbook),” Munster's report reads, according to ZDNet's Between the Lines blog.

As such, Munster and co-researchers are “anticipating a new category of Apple products with an operating system more robust than the iPhone’s but optimized for multi-touch, unlike Mac OS X.” The analyst explains that such a device could feature an operating system that closely resembles that of the iPhone, being able to run App Store content, “or it could be a modified version of Mac OS X,” Munster believes.

“We expect the development of such an OS to be underway currently, but its complexity, along with our conversations with a key company in the mobile space, leads us to believe it will not launch until CY10,” the analyst concludes.