Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
Apr. 29, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 24, 2009
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value	$ 8,524	$ 10,047
Debt Instrument, Carrying Amount	8,096	9,711
Restructuring Asset Impairment Charges	13	8	7
Fair Value Equity Other Investments	656	542
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment	24	40	4
Other intangible assets, net	2,777	2,559
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	28
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill), Included in Other Expenses	9
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	213	205
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	(6)	(9)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Other Comprehensive Income	27	58
Net purchases, issuances and settlements	(43)	(41)
Ending Balance	191	213	205
Estimate of Fair Value [Member]
Assets:
Corporate debt securities	1,961	2,134
Auction rate securities	133	142
Mortgage backed securities	785	717
US Government and agency securities	2,756	2,753
Foreign Government and agency securities	131	119
Certificates of deposit	119	256
Other asset backed securities	349	313
Marketable equity securities	237	1
Derivative assets	130	296
Exchange-traded funds	39	30
Total assets	6,640	6,761
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	303	47
Total liabilities	303	47
Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Corporate debt securities
Auction rate securities
Mortgage backed securities
US Government and agency securities	1,453	782
Foreign Government and agency securities
Certificates of deposit
Other asset backed securities
Marketable equity securities	237	1
Derivative assets	21	265
Exchange-traded funds	39	30
Total assets	1,750	1,078
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	303	47
Total liabilities	303	47
Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Corporate debt securities	1,944	2,118
Auction rate securities
Mortgage backed securities	750	678
US Government and agency securities	1,303	1,971
Foreign Government and agency securities	131	119
Certificates of deposit	119	256
Other asset backed securities	343	297
Marketable equity securities
Derivative assets	109	31
Exchange-traded funds
Total assets	4,699	5,470
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities
Total liabilities
Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Corporate debt securities	17	16
Auction rate securities	133	142
Mortgage backed securities	35	39
US Government and agency securities
Foreign Government and agency securities
Certificates of deposit
Other asset backed securities	6	16
Marketable equity securities
Derivative assets
Exchange-traded funds
Total assets	191	213
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities
Total liabilities

Auction Rate Securities Available-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure

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Certificates of Deposit Available-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure

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Corporate Debt Securities Available-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure

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This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the cost method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.

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Exchange-traded Funds Trading, Fair Value Disclosure

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This item represents equity method investments in common stock and investments accounted for under the cost-method at fair value.

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This category includes information about debt securities (such as bonds) issued by a national, local, or municipal government not within the nation of domicile of the reporting entity.

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ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillIncludedInOtherExpenses

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Marketable Equity Securities Available-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure

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Other Asset Backed Securities Available-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure

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Restructuring Asset Impairment Charges

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Total Assets, Fair Value Disclosure

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Total Liabilities, Fair Value Disclosure

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For entities that separately report investments in debentures, notes, and other debt securities issued by US government agencies, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae). Excludes US treasury securities and debt issued by Government-sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC or Freddie Mac), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA or Fannie Mae), and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government.

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Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number APB14-1
-Paragraph 31
-Subparagraph b

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-Paragraph 16
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Estimated fair value of the debt instrument at the balance-sheet date.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 10

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents derivative financial instruments which the Company is a party to as of the balance sheet date. A derivative instrument is a financial instrument or other contract with all three of the following characteristics: (a) it has (1) one or more underlyings and (2) one or more notional amounts or payment provisions or both. Those terms determine the amount of the settlement or settlements, and, in some cases, whether or not a settlement is required; (b) it requires no initial net investment or an initial net investment that is smaller than would be required for other types of contracts that would be expected to have a similar response to changes in market factors; (c) its terms require or permit net settlement, it can readily be settled net by a means outside the contract, or it provides for delivery of an asset that puts the recipient in a position not substantially different from net settlement. Notwithstanding the forgoing characteristics, loan commitments that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that will be held for sale shall be accounted for as derivative instruments by the issuer of the loan commitment (that is, the potential lender).

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-Publisher FASB
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-Paragraph 21

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents derivative instrument obligations meeting the definition of a liability which should be reported as of the balance sheet date. A derivative instrument is a financial instrument or other contract with all three of the following characteristics: (a) it has (1) one or more underlyings and (2) one or more notional amounts or payment provisions or both. Those terms determine the amount of the settlement or settlements, and, in some cases, whether or not a settlement is required; (b) it requires no initial net investment or an initial net investment that is smaller than would be required for other types of contracts that would be expected to have a similar response to changes in market factors; (c) its terms require or permit net settlement, it can readily be settled net by a means outside the contract, or it provides for delivery of an asset that puts the recipient in a position not substantially different from net settlement. Notwithstanding the forgoing characteristics, loan commitments that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that will be held for sale shall be accounted for as derivative instruments by the issuer of the loan commitment (that is, the potential lender).

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value.

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This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity.

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This element represents purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (net) which have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3).

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This element represents an asset measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

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The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an intangible asset (excluding goodwill) to fair value.

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-Publisher FASB
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Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
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-Paragraph 15
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

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