Production is starting and should hit mass-market stride in February, says an analyst

Artist's rendition of an Apple tablet computer, with iPhone. Credit: AppleInsider

"The manufacturing cogs for the tablet are creaking into action," writes Oppenheimer's Yair Reiner in a note to clients issued Wednesday morning.

According to his supply chain sources, Apple (AAPL) appears to be gearing up to build as many as 1 million tablet computers per month. Assuming the company would need 5 or 6 weeks of inventory before going live, that suggests -- barring production hiccups -- a March or April 2010 launch.

Among the other "tidbits" Reiner says he's picked up:

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