Hewlett-Packard is all set to announce its earnings report next Monday after the close of the market. This will be the first earnings call under the course of new CEO Meg Whitman. What is interesting in this earnings call is that the CEO Whitman took some critical decisions, like keeping the much debated $40 billion-plus PC business. When Leo Apotheker was handling the command, HP was debating on selling or spinning off the PC division, but Whitman reverted that decision.  It’s also expected that HP could license the software to other companies, or possibly use it for other devices it makes, such as printers.

What analysts are expecting from this earnings call is something optimistic.  Having a look at previous records, HP earned $1.13 per share, excluding items, on $32.06 billion in revenue, for the quarter ended October 31.

HP is also adding a new member to its board, to shore up investor confidence shaken by strategy shifts and slashed sales forecasts.  This new board member is the activist shareholder Ralph Whitworth, and is joining the board’s compensation committee and its finance and investment committee. Another appointment on the board is Rajiv Gupta as lead independent director.

“It’s definitely a positive development for the company,” said Brian Marshall, an analyst at ISI Group in San Francisco. “The board needs help, and Ralph has the background to help them.”

Finally, After Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman announced that their PC division will not be spun-off, their HP TouchPad made an effort for a last hurrah and partnered with Best Buy offering the tablet for only $149 if they buy any HP computer. The new HP Slate 2 is kind of like a revamped model of the Slate 500, a tablet they launched last year which, like the TouchPad, didn’t bid well in the tablet race. The same will be available later this month for $699.