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As some analysts raise their target price on AAPL to $63, fingers point to the main reason for the stock's rise: iPod.

In fact, Merrill Lynch, one of the most bullish firms on AAPL currently, predicts Cupertino will sell a record 2.87 million iPods in the Xmas quarter, Macworld UK reports.

Last Xmas, Apple sold around 770,000 iPods. This was before the iPod Mini was released, and the decision was the result of a tense management meeting. Some called for half a million to be produced; CEO Steve Jobs made the final decision and went for 770,000.

They were about 30,000 short of demand.

If Merrill Lynch's prediction turns out to be correct, Apple will roughly double the number of iPod users.

Analysis: Shall we run a raffle on how many iPods Apple sell this quarter? Answer in January. The winner gets an iPod Mini. With Microdrive removed [just kidding about the prize]. But our guess is 2.9 million. What's yours?