Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2012	Jan. 27, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Jul. 30, 2010	Apr. 27, 2012		Apr. 29, 2011		Apr. 30, 2010		Apr. 24, 2009
Inventories
Finished goods	$ 1,175				$ 1,020				$ 1,175		$ 1,020
Work in process	288				261				288		261
Raw materials	337				338				337		338
Total	1,800				1,619				1,800		1,619
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	5,796				5,732				5,796		5,732
Accumulated depreciation	(3,323)				(3,244)				(3,323)		(3,244)
Property, plant, and equipment, net	2,473				2,488				2,473		2,488
Depreciation expense									498		464		454
Changes in Product Warranty Obligations
Balance as of				35				31	35		31
Warranty claims provision									23		27
Settlements made									(27)		(23)
Balance as of	31				35				31		35		31
Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive income									3,368		3,179		2,997
AOCI
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments	130				196				130		196		(30)		(95)
Cumulative Translation Adjustments	306				443				306		443		243		62
Net Change in Retirement Obligations	834				607				834		607		612		(398)
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives	(76)				(257)				(76)		(257)		91		228
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	(473)				(224)				(473)		(224)		(307)		(202)
OCI
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments									(66)		226		68
Cumulative Translation Adjustments									(137)		200		181
Net Change in Retirement Obligations									(227)		5		(214)
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives									181		(348)		(137)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)									(249)		83		(102)
Reclassification of other-than-temporary losses on marketable securities included in net earnings													(3)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax
Tax expense/(benefit) on the net unrealized gain/(loss) on foreign exchange rate derivatives and interest rate derivative instruments									105		(183)		(75)
Tax expense/(benefit) related to the net change in retirement obligations									(130)		3		(112)
Tax expense (benefit) on the unrealized gain/(loss) on investments									(38)		130		35
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation
Earnings from continuing operations	888	845	864	819	761	913	553	828	3,415		3,055		3,083
Earnings from discontinued operations									202		41		16
Net earnings	991	935	871	821	776	924	566	830	3,617		3,096		3,099
Basic weighted average shares outstanding									1,053.9		1,077.4		1,106.3
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee stock options									0.9		0.6		0.9
Employee resticted stock units									4.9		3.4		1.9
Other									0.2		0.3		0.3
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding									1,059.9		1,081.7		1,109.4
Basic earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations (per share)	$ 0.85	$ 0.80	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	$ 0.71	$ 0.85	$ 0.51	$ 0.76	$ 3.24		$ 2.84		$ 2.79
Earnings from discontinued operations (per share)									$ 0.19		$ 0.04		$ 0.01
Net earnings (per share)	$ 0.95	$ 0.89	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	$ 0.73	$ 0.86	$ 0.52	$ 0.76	$ 3.43	[1]	$ 2.87	[1]	$ 2.80	[1]
Diluted earnings per share:
Earnings from continuing operations (per share)	$ 0.85	$ 0.80	$ 0.81	$ 0.77	$ 0.71	$ 0.85	$ 0.51	$ 0.76	$ 3.22		$ 2.82		$ 2.78
Earnings from discontinued operations (per share)									$ 0.19		$ 0.04		$ 0.01
Net earnings (per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.88	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	$ 0.72	$ 0.86	$ 0.52	$ 0.76	$ 3.41		$ 2.86		$ 2.79
Stock Options
Diluted earnings per share:
Number of shares excluded from computation of earnings per share									51		59		65
Minimum
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets, estimated useful life									3 years
Maximum
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets, estimated useful life									20 years
Land and land improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	135				136				135		136
Land and land improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, estimate useful life (in years)									20 years
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	1,475				1,482				1,475		1,482
Buildings and leasehold improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, estimate useful life (in years)									40 years
Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	3,858				3,813				3,858		3,813
Equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, estimate useful life (in years)									3 years
Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, estimate useful life (in years)									7 years
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 328				$ 301				$ 328		$ 301

[1] * All earnings per share amounts have been rounded to the nearest $0.01, and therefore, may not sum.