Despite the fact that e-books would likely be one of the key selling points of the forthcoming iPad, which launches Saturday, April 3, Apple’s rivals in the e-book reader arena – especially Amazon – would likely become the leading e-book providers for the tablet device.

The iPad’s lack of preinstalled book-reading software of the company, iBooks, indicates that users will be free to download and install any software – thereby implying that Amazon’s Kindle app for iPad stands as much a chance to be chosen by the users as Apple’s iBooks.

Going by the information forwarded by “inside” sources, the reason why iBooks app is not a preinstalled feature on the iPad is that the software was not finished when the production of the iPad began – Apple, however, has said that the software will be available to download Saturday.

Meanwhile, the analysts are of the opinion that the parity in e-book software selection for the iPad would help Amazon and other competing media stores who have already gained the lead in operating e-bookstores.

Noting that, initially at least, users will prefer the Kindle store to the Apple iBookstore, Forrester analyst James McQuivey elaborated: “If you're an iPad buyer, chances are about 90% that you're also a book buyer on Amazon. Amazon has your credit card on file, they know what you like. ... That relationship is the key to selling books.”