There's more proof that a negative PR event can't just be brushed away - HP's Patricia Dunnis stepping down:

Hewlett-Packard Co. said Tuesday that Patricia Dunn will step down as chairwoman of the computer and printer maker in January amid a widening scandal involving a possibly illegal probe into media leaks. She will be succeeded by CEO Mark Hurd.

Hurd will retain his existing positions as chief executive and president and Dunn will remain as a director after she relinquishes the chair on Jan. 18.

"I am taking action to ensure that inappropriate investigative techniques will not be employed again. They have no place in HP, " Hurd said in a statement.

This is fairly fast for a large organization to move, but there was still the requisite round of denials and explanations from Dunn first (which only made things worse). It's a new world of PR now - 10 years ago, you only had to deal with the trade press (and maybe the general media if the firestorm got big enough). Now, there's the whole "Army of Davids" thing - which may not be enough to effect change all by itself, but can certainly generate enough heat and light to get the notice of everyone else.