Fastest way to setup 500 IPADS

No, sorry, but apple makes it so you have to connect them to the computer first. 500 ipads does sound very time consuming, especially because it always has to update first. Good luck, though.

Your best bet is to contact Apple Crop...
http://www.apple.com/contact/

They might have a plan setup for doing this with that many ipads. You would need a least 5 to 10 computers to be able to carry this out. And even with that many computer will take some time and some sanity.

One computer to one iPad at a time.

Have you seen this?
http://developer.apple.com/programs/ios/enterprise/

"Ad Hoc distribution allows you to distribute your proprietary, in-house applications to employees or members of your organization." I'd assume you can also distributes files.

You may find more knowledgeable folks in the developer forums.

Robert

There is a program for windows for iPhone that works on the iPAD.
It is called iphone configurations utility

http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/enterprise/

it will let you do several at once.

re number of ipads per computer at a time
Actually you can set up multiple ipads to one computer. For the education market there are several companies that sell systems with carts and USB hubs that can sync up to 20 at a time (on a mac) the limit is more like 6-8 at once for a pc.

Jim,

Can you list some of the companies/products? I too have a need to set up and deploy hundreds of iPads.

Thank you,

Kevin

http://www.jamfsoftware.com/solutions/mobile-device-management

The above company will have a program called Casper which will support your effort for the iPAD, to be released in Nov. 2010

How many ipads can be installed with one copy of an app purchase in a corporate environment

You can do more then 1 iPad at a time. We setup 2500 iPads recently and automated the process as best we could given the current tools. We were able to do this in three days as well as auto capture serials, mac addresses, and asset tag each device. Granted we had many computers and man power, but for this particular client/setup the process worked.

We are currently working on a way to streamline the process even more, as we do mass imaging and deployment of computer and iPads. iOS 4.2 should make things much easier because you can have them download apps from a web server.

iPhone Configuration Utility currently doesn't work right for deploying AppStore applications. It kind of works, but only if the iPad has synced to the computer running iPhone Configuration Utility first (not very helpful). You can load configuration profiles with iPhone Configuration Utility (custom web clips, wifi settings, parental controls, etc). The configuration profile can be installed via Email or a web page. This can also be done with a MDM server.

Is there a particular MDM Server that you suggest Chris?
Thanks

Interesting discussion. I can add that I’ve recently found a company that has developed a line of iPad accessories that specialize in mass syncing, storage, security and recharging systems. Check out http://www.ipadcart.info. Maybe some of their solutions could be useful.

Dear all, I have the issue as well !
We have to install 400 iPads soon and we're going to install MobileIron for the configuration.
BUT : how can I install 400 times MobileIron on the iPads ??????
Can I use the iPhone configuration utility with one profile and use that 400 times or is there s better solution ?
Thanks for your help,
Alex

How many ipads can be installed with one copy of an app purchase in a corporate environment

One. You need to purchase a license for each iPad. But you don't need to download the app for each iPad.
You can purchase a volume license.

Here's some good info for enterprise -> http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/resources/

-> http://www.enterprisemobiletoday.com/features/management/article.php/3887971/iPa d-Enterprise-Deployment-Guide-Everything-Mobile-IT-Needs-to-Know.htm