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Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Apr. 29, 2011
sqft
Apr. 30, 2010
Lease period of land, in years 99  
Synthetic lease buildings, sq. feet 600,000  
Original cost of synthetic lease buildings $ 149.6  
Percentage of residual guarantee 85.00%  
Synthetic lease covenant - minimum unencumbered cash and short term investments amount 300.0  
Minimum guarantee on lease 127.1  
Synthetic lease residual guarantee deficiency accrual 16.1  
Synthetic lease residual guarantee deficiency 35.8  
Accrued purchase commitments with contract manufacturers 4.5 3.8
Maximum guaranteed payment contingencies 89.0  
Deferred revenue on recourse financing arrangements 87.7  
Deferred cost of revenues on recourse financing arrangements 7.6  
Financing guarantees not recorded in balance sheet 5.3  
Purchase orders and other commitments

In the normal course of business we make commitments to our third party contract manufacturers, to manage manufacturer lead times and meet product forecasts, and to other parties, to purchase various key components used in the manufacture of our products. We establish accruals for estimated losses on purchased components to the extent we believe it is probable that such components will not be utilized in future operations. To the extent that such forecasts are not achieved, our commitments and associated accruals may change. We had $176.0 million in non-cancelable purchase commitments with our contract manufacturers as of April 29, 2011. In addition, we recorded a liability for firm non-cancelable and unconditional purchase commitments with contract manufacturers for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts through a charge to product cost of sales. As of April 29, 2011 and April 30, 2010, such liability amounted to $4.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively, and is included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

In addition to commitments with contract manufacturers and component suppliers, we have open purchase orders and contractual obligations associated with our ordinary course business for which we have not received goods or services. We had $36.1 million in capital purchase commitments and $270.0 million in other purchase commitments as of April 29, 2011.

  

During the ordinary course of business, we provide standby letters of credit or other guarantee instruments to third parties as required for certain transactions initiated either by us or our subsidiaries. As of April 29, 2011, our financial guarantees of $5.3 million that were not recorded on our balance sheet consisted of standby letters of credit related to workers' compensation, a customs guarantee, a corporate credit card program, foreign rent guarantees and surety bonds.

 
Financing guarantees

We have both nonrecourse and recourse lease financing arrangements with third-party leasing companies through new and preexisting relationships with customers. In addition, from time to time we provide guarantees for a portion of other financing arrangements under which we could be called upon to make payments to our third-party funding companies in the event of nonpayment by end-user customers. Under the terms of the nonrecourse leases, we do not have any continuing obligations or liabilities to the third-party leasing companies. Under the terms of the recourse leases, which are generally three years or less, we remain liable for the aggregate unpaid remaining lease payments to the third-party leasing companies in the event of end-user customer default. These arrangements are generally collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. Where we provide a guarantee, we defer the revenues associated with the end-user financing arrangement in accordance with our revenue recognition policies. As of April 29, 2011, the maximum guaranteed payment contingencies under our financing arrangements totaled approximately $89.0 million, and the related deferred revenue and cost of revenues totaled approximately $87.7 million and $7.6 million, respectively. To date, we have not experienced material losses under our lease financing programs or other financing arrangements.

 
Indemnification agreements

We enter into standard indemnification agreements in the ordinary course of business. Pursuant to these agreements, we agree to defend and indemnify other parties, primarily our customers or business partners or subcontractors, for damages and reasonable costs incurred in any suit or claim brought against them alleging that our products sold to them infringe any U.S. patent, copyright, trade secret, or similar right. If a product becomes the subject of an infringement claim, we may, at our option: (i) replace the product with another noninfringing product that provides substantially similar performance; (ii) modify the infringing product so that it no longer infringes but remains functionally equivalent; (iii) obtain the right for the customer to continue using the product at our expense and for the reseller to continue selling the product; (iv) take back the infringing product and refund to customer the purchase price paid less depreciation amortized on a straight-line basis. We have not been required to make material payments pursuant to these provisions historically. We have not recorded any liability at April 29, 2011 related to these guarantees since the maximum amount of potential future payments under such guarantees, indemnities and warranties is not determinable, other than as described above.

 
Legal contingencies

We are subject to various legal proceedings and claims which may arise in the normal course of business. No accrual has been recorded as of April 29, 2011, as the outcome of these legal matters is currently not determinable.

On October 13, 2010, Amalgamated Bank (as trustee of the Longview Largecap 500 Index Fund and the Longview Largecap 500 Index Veba Fund) filed a derivative lawsuit on behalf of NetApp, Inc. and NetApp U.S. Public Sector, Inc. in the Superior Court of the State of California, Santa Clara County. The lawsuit named 15 of our current and former directors as defendants. On February 3, 2011, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint in response to motions to dismiss that we and the individual defendants had filed. Like the original complaint, the amended complaint includes claims of breach of fiduciary duty and waste of corporate assets and alleges that the defendants failed to monitor internal controls to ensure that we complied with legal requirements in our General Services Administration (GSA) contracting activities, resulting in us incurring defense and settlement costs. The amended complaint seeks disgorgement of salaries and other compensation from the defendants and additional unspecified damages. We and the individual defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint in early March 2011, and the hearing on these motions is scheduled for July 15, 2011.

 
Accrual legal proceedings and claims 0  
Number of current and former directors 15  
Capital Purchase Commitments [Member]
    
Significant commitment 36.1  
Purchase Commitment [Member]
    
Significant commitment 270.0  
Software [Member]
    
Product warranty term ninety  
Hardware [Member]
    
Product warranty term three  
Contract Manufacturer [Member]
    
Significant commitment $ 176.0  
Synthetic Building Leases [Member]
    
Maximum financial covenants ratio less than three to one