When Apple Inc. announced the delay of Mac OS X Leopard in favor of an early iPhone release back in April 2007, many OS X users felt let down and for good reason. While not as hyped as the iPhone, there are many loyal Mac users eagerly awaiting the new operating system. Anticipation aside, Apple is in the business of selling products and it’s decision to push the iPhone out first seems to be a strategic marketing decision on their part.

According to a survey released in June 2007, 19 million Americans were interested in buying iPhone and most of them had never even seen one in person. With that kind of momentum behind the iPhone and the release of several other key software packages (Adobe Creative Suite 3, Final Cut Studio 2, etc.), it should come as no surprise that Apple reported record numbers in it’s Q3 2007 earnings report.

Steve Jobs knew that Apple had a stellar product in the iPhone and with stellar products come media frenzy, high demand and uncontrollable hype. That kind of attention is exactly what Apple needs going into the second half of their best sales year to date. So how do you capitalize on all the attention? You put something equally appealing in the spotlight.

A good marketing strategy doesn’t stop after a successful release. Generally, the goal is to convert one time users into repeat customers and that is where Leopard comes in. Many iPod and iPhone users have never considered owning a Mac. The success of those products could lead many consumers to Apple for their personal computing needs as well.

Apple raised the bar with the iPhone and then put their focus back Mac OS X Leopard. To sweeten the deal they boosted the performance of their MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops (and in some locations offered a 5% discount on all of their hardware just in time for the “back to school” shoppers).

In marketing and technology, timing is everything and right now Apple isn’t missing a beat.