iPad Frenzy Expected on April 3rd

Investors are already predicting a huge demand for iPads on their April 3rd release date, even exceeding the sales of iPhones two years ago. Some analysts foresee sales reaching towards 2.5 million units for the 2010 fiscal year, which would place the iPad well beyond the sales rate for Amazon’s Kindle, which has sold approximately 3 million units to date.

As of the moment, only Apple’s online store accepts advanced orders, but it has recently been rumored that Best Buy may also take iPads and accessories into stock on April 3rd. For consumers who do not plan to pre-order their iPads on Apple’s website, the Apple Retail Stores will also provide a selection of iPads and accessories, although there are no absolute figures on the number of units Apple has produced.

There has been speculation that the iPad will seek to compete directly with the Amazon Kindle for ebook sales. The up-and-coming iBookstore, also planned to be opened on April 3rd, has received commitments from publishers like Penguin Books, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and MacMillan Publishers to produce electronic content. Works from Project Gutenburg, an online collection of over 30,000 classic publications, is expected to be available for free download.