We recently learned that due to restrictions in touchscreen manufacturing capacity there would only be 200,000 units of the Palm Pre in the first production run. Well, they better learn how to make those touchscreens faster because a SeekingAlpha article is projecting 1.5 Million units of the Palm Pre will be sold in the first 12 months.

The article quotes Citi analyst Jim Suva who discusses the potential for Palm’s financial rebound:

While reaction was overwhelmingly positive (and rightfully so in our view), very little was asked or offered on Palm’s pricing strategy for the Pre. We think Palm will soon have to offer details on expected ASP for the Pre and will likely revisit our estimates in the future. That said, even with a fairly conservative ASP and margin expectation, our forecasted operating losses narrow dramatically and we would expect that trend to be echoed in consensus estimate.

In addition, sales of the Treo Pro and Centro are likely to drop significantly as consumers hold off on Palm purchases until the Pre is launched.

According to Suva, the Palm Pre could sell 1.5 Million units in its first 12 month and Sprint is likely to get an extensive crack at exclusivity with Palm’s incentive being a large subsidy.

As long as we get 1 of those 1.5 million Pre, we’ll be fine. Actually, we’ve never thought of that before… what is the plural of “Palm Pre”? Is it…. still just “Palm Pre”?