When it comes to predicting various product sales from hipper-than-hip Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), it's good to know that we have more than financial analyst statistics and feelings to look at. One stock watcher recently hung out quite a bit at several Apple retail stores to try and collect empirical data from his own two eyes to see if Apple's analyst-predicted iPhone and Mac product sales numbers are indeed stacking up or are falling short.

The conclusion? Apple will most likely achieve its goal of 730,000 iPhone sales in the quarter ended September 30. In fact, the conclusion this analyst came up with from his store checks indicate Apple could bypass its own estimate and sell over 800,000 iPhones in the July-September quarter.

As far as Apple Mac sales go, Gene Munster's research stated that about 2 million Mac systems would be sold in September alone, pushing past his earlier estimate of 1.9 million. It's interesting to note that the average Apple retail store sells over 55 Mac systems per open day, not counting website sales or other retail sales, like those inside Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) locations. Are Apple shares headed above $200 territory? Munster maintains his $211 target.

There was a story circulating some brokerage firms trading desks yesterday afternoon that the March quarter for Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPod sales may be a little light versus estimates. The Street has modeled for Apple to sell between 10-11 million iPod units for the quarter. There was discussion then that January sales actually were tracking better than the 10-11 million run rate, so estimates were moved up to 11-12 million units. The February sales apparently are rumored to be a little off pace, therefore the quarterly expectations just for the iPod may be missed. Therefore, there were some hedge funds trying to "sell" that news out in the market place, and of course, with that -- short the shares.

Give me a break. Who really cares about the March quarter numbers for the iPod? The quarterly revenue and earnings estimates should be comfortably achieved with Mac sales, iPod sales, new cpu and software upgrades, etc. The story for Apple is not the first quarter of the calender year -- never has been. The iPod sales are extremely relevant for the December quarter as the Christmas season is all important. The numbers this past December quarter were more than 21 million iPod units sold. The installed base for iPod is over 90 million units. The iPhone will be launched in the June quarter. Do you really want to be short Apple going into that hoopla? I don't think so.

I chatted with three portfolio managers about their expectations for Apple. Two of the three feel Apple trades up to $110 by July on iPhone excitement and the third manager feels Apple goes to $130-140 by year end as investors focus on a $4 per share earnings number for calendar 2008. He also feels 2009 will look like $5 to $5.50 as the momentum for iPhone continues unabated.

Apple's new iPod Shuffle will begin shipping at the end of the month, or 'within a couple weeks' according to the company at a recent quarterly earnings call. Apple Computer, Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced the new version of its popular and affordable version of the iPod without a screen back in August. It's smaller than the regular shuffle, and it features a built in belt clip.

Two months is a bit long to have to wait on a product you've heard announced, but Apple is hardly the first company that announces things slightly ahead of time, this is business as usual. With a low price and the built in clip, this version of the iPod should do well with fitness enthusiasts and help boost the next quarter's iPod sales, particularly as the holiday season approaches.

Tobias Buckell is an author, freelancer, and professional blogger. He owns shares in Apple.