Apple to launch tablet in spring 2010 - analyst

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is preparing to launch a tablet personal computer in late March or April, with manufacturer partners poised to roll out as many as 1 million units per month, according to an Oppenheimer research note.

The highly anticipated tablet is expected to pitch Apple into the digital book market popularized by Amazon.com's (AMZN.O) Kindle e-reader. Apple declined to comment.