Hewlett-Packard’s separation of its consumer computing business is quickly turning into a kind of layer tennis between CEO Léo Apotheker’s representatives and Personal Services Group VP (and ex-Palm CEO) Todd Bradley, who currently runs that business. The competing statements aren’t confrontational or contradictory, but they are counterpoints.

“We prefer a spin-off as a separate company and the working hypotheses is that a spin-off will be in the best interests of HP’s shareholders, customers and employees,” a HP spokeswoman said, according to Reuters.

“However,” she added, “we have to complete ...