Deploying 10 identical iPads to 10 users with preloaded content that won't be wiped when connected to iTunes [duplicate]
Solution 1:
Contact your local Apple Store and ask to speak to one of their Business Consultants (each store has one.) If you are buying bulk quantities of iPods Apple used to offer digital etching of your company logo on the back as well as the ability to preload it with promotional content (e.g. videos), I am not sure if they are doing this with Apps on the iPad but it is worth a shot and the Business Consultant is the person who would know or have the resources to find out.
Solution 2:
When I picked up my iPhone 4 at the App store they were able to pre-activate it with the computer there so that I could start using it, but it still wasn't linked to a computer. I was able to download some apps from the app store right away (linking it to my iTunes account). Then when I got home I connected it to my computer and gave it a name and set everything up, completing the activation process. It installed all the apps from my old iPod Touch onto the iPhone, keeping the new apps I installed.
I asked the sales rep about it at the Apple store and he said it was a special configuration they had on their computers there. So you might be able to do that with your iPads (although they didn't offer when I got my iPad) and then install your apps before sending them out.
Of course it would require you have an Apple store close by.
Solution 3:
I think, the only way to do this without hacking the iPads OS would be an OEM version of the iPad OS. I don't know if Apple offers something like that.