Calling the subject its "Hot Topic of the Month" Piper Jaffray stated Monday that there's is a "high" likelihood that Apple will announce an ultra-portable Mac in the next 4-6 months.
"The move could take place in the form of an smaller laptop and/or a tablet device using the iPhone's multi-touch technology," Sr. Analyst Gene Munster explained in a report issued to client investors. "Although we do not have firm evidence, either product would be a strategic extension of Apple's current technology base."
Munster went on to explain that the ultra-portable will most likely come as an extension to Apple's current MacBook lineup. Featuring a 10- to 11-inch and a full keyboard the device is said to be "a logical addition" to Apple's Mac line.
In addition to this the analyst explained that Apple is investing a lot of R&D money into development of multi-touch technologies. Munster stated that a device using this technology could come in the form of a tablet device, similar, but slightly larger than the iPhone.
"Such a device would likely have features and capabilities that the iPhone does not have, like data storage and file saving as well as document editing features," he wrote. "We believe Apple's multi-touch technology is slightly ahead of competitors using touch based input technology, and as such we expect Apple to leverage its multi-touch technology in future products."