Analysts predict bumper end to 2009 for Apple

Apple is on track to hit record sales for its ever-popular Mac hardware

Apple is set to unveil more record Mac sales when it releases the figures for its final quarter of 2009 later this month, according to reports.

Brian Marshall of Wall Street analyst firm BroadPoint AmTech wrote in a research note to clients that he estimates total Mac sales to be 3.3 million units for the period, according to a Computerworld report.

Apple's previous record in its third quarter of 2009 was 3.05 million, meaning that Apple would record an increase in sales of over eight per cent, while year-on-year Marshall's estimate would represent a 31 per cent increase on the 2.3 million Macs sold in the fourth quarter of 2008, said the report.

It has been something of a rollercoaster 12 months for the iconic tech company, with much of the first half of the year dominated by speculation about Steve Jobs's health. The firm has also been distracted by the long-running legal battle with Psystar, the company which makes clone software that allows users to run the Mac OS on regular PCs.

Although Psystar has been slapped with a court injunction preventing it from selling the software, the firm has defiantly said it will be seeking clarification over its legality or otherwise.

However, strong sales of Apple's new Mac OS X product, Snow Leopard, got the firm back on track this year and rumours of a new tablet device slated for the first half of 2010 are generating widespread excitement among Mac followers.