If Hewlett-Packard were a living, breathing entity, it might have a future in politics where it's perfectly acceptable (or least expected) to flip-flop on key issues. You know, things like whether or not to forge ahead with its PC business, the $1.2 billion acquisition of Palm only to later flip webOS to the open source crowd, and the whole TouchPad fiasco. And did we mention HP is once again interested in building webOS tablets?

Market research firms International Data Corp (IDC) and Gartner both report that HP still sits on top of the world as the largest PC maker, shipping more units than other computer maker in the third quarter. Given that HP is maintaining a sizable lead despite all the turmoil surrounding the company's past, present, and future, why on earth would HP go forward with plans to sever its PC business? That's a question HP itself is having trouble answering, and it now looks as though newly appointed CEO Meg Whitman wants to back off plans to spin off or sell HP's Personal Systems Group (PSG).

Hewlett Packard late yesterday thanked former CEO Leo Apotheker for his services while scooting him out the door and simultaneously welcomed Meg Whitman to the fold, who was appointed to his old position and will try to steady HP's ship as it bobbles over waves of uncertainty. Some of those waves are self-inflicted, like the decision to abandon webOS hardware, so does that mean Whitman will reverse the course set in motion by Apotheker? Don't bet on it.