Mac drug user may be thwart by the check release of Mac OS X 10.5 , but tech - industry analyst say an October release escort for the next major O X update is nothing to get alarmed about — especially if it helps get the gamy - profile iPhone out the room access on time .

Apple announced Thursday that it was move OS X 10.5 ’s spill back to October . The OS go update , code - call Leopard , has antecedently been slated for a leap 2007 sacking . In announcing the delay , Apple cite the want to dislodge software engineering resources to its iPhone fluid gimmick , which is scheduled to embark in June .

Reaction to the Leopard wait among Mac users on Macworld ’s forums was a mixture of dashing hopes and thwarting . “ I guess mainstream consumer toys are more important than the ad agencies , blueprint business firm , mark houses , etc . that in reality help Apple become who they are , ” posted one forum exploiter .

But that disappointment , while understandable , may be misplaced , allot to tech industry analyst . “ A delay in an operating organization is not much to interest about , ” said Tim Bajarin , president of Creative Strategies , a gamy - tech consulting firm . “ If they were a yr of late , I ’d be come to , but not a few months . ”

Rather , analysts were root on by the news that the iPhone is likely on cartroad , and that Apple is devote to delivering that mobile gimmick in June . A speech sound that also doubles as an iPod and an Internet communications twist , the iPhone potentially reaches customers beyond Apple ’s core base of Mac users . That , coupled with the fact that AT&T is involve with the iPhone as a servicing provider , makes it much more critical for Apple to forgather the June ship date .

“ I think that one way out we may not be aware of are the contract terms between Apple and AT&T , ” said Ross Rubin , director of industry analysis at The NPD Group . “ Apple may have committed to delivering the speech sound at a certain time creating a legal liability if they do n’t deliver , which might explain the shifting of resource . ”

The Leopard delay is the first significant wait in Apple ’s operating systems since it supervene upon OS 9 in 2001 . However , it is the second high - profile product delay in 2007 for Apple ; the release of Apple TV drop away a few week from February to mid - March .

Still analysts remain positive that get the iPhone on the market makes more common sense for the company than pouring its resources into the Leopard . “ Apple has a peck of good thing lead on correctly now , ” Bajarin aver .

However , one possible consequence from the delay could be investor ire . Consumers are potential to forgive Apple for small delays in product scheme ; Wall Street can be less understanding .

“ Investors may say , ‘ Wow , these guy are n’t bulletproof and they do make mistakes , ’ ” said Roger Kay , president of market inquiry firm Endpoint Technologies Associates . “ This could cause a revaluation of the stock , but it should n’t hurt [ Apple ] foresightful term . ”

Kay also believes that Apple ’s tight - lipped ways that help oneself the company beget excitation for product announcements when affair are going well may have a minus effect in situations like this .

“ The religious cult of concealment hurts them a little mo here , ” Kay said . “ People are wondering what else they are shroud , what else do n’t we know . ”

Overall , all of the analysts match that the delay wo n’t hurt Apple in the long terminus financially . In fact , Creative ’s Bajarin said the company could be better pose by a Leopard hold if it means a successful iPhone launching .

All of the analysts also agree that Apple is make salutary moves by branching out into different markets like television and electric cell phones or else of sticking to its traditional computing concern .

“ The iPhone is an ambitious product , and they need to differentiate from a host of companionship that have mysterious roots in this quad , ” said Rubin .