A report on Forbes today notes that Banc of America Securities are pleased with the Apple/Intel deal. “On the whole, we believe this is a net positive for Apple’s positioning for the next five years, as the transition will allow it to provide improved performance, better heat and power management, and lower price points, especially for mobile platforms. Further, we have always believed that Apple’s value has rested with its software development (for its OS and applications), rather than the hardware.” Banc of America rates Apple at “buy” with a US$44 price target.