Though the unveiling of Windows 8 suggests tablets are reshaping the PC industry rather than destroying it, Goldman Sachs analyst Bill Shope has posted a report claiming Apple executives are bullish about iPad's chances of superseding the traditional computer.

Shope met up with Apple COO Tim Cook, CFO Peter Oppenheimer and retail head Ron Johnson, posting in his report that the company's bigwigs are "overtly optimistic" about the fortunes of iOS in the coming years.

Cooking up a media storm

Specifically, Cook is believed to have said he thinks the tablet market – led by iPad – could and should surpass demand for PCs in the future for a sustained period.

As obtained by Apple Insider, Shope's report notes that Cook "sees no reason why the tablet market shouldn't eclipse the PC market over the next several years."

As a result, Shope went on the predict that Apple will sell 8.1 million iPads in the current quarter – an increase of 72 percent year on year.

[source: Apple Insider]