Segment and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011		Oct. 02, 2010		Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Sales:
Sales	$ 5,186,857		$ 4,657,841		$ 15,949,791	$ 13,506,514
Operating income (loss):
Operating income	209,162		184,519		676,660	518,980
Restructuring, integration, and other charges	8,848		14,338		23,676	27,424
Settlement of legal matter	0		0		5,875	0
Assets	9,868,727				9,868,727		9,600,538
Global Components [Member]
Sales:
Sales	3,648,858		3,437,632		11,410,789	9,824,670
Operating income (loss):
Operating income	194,178		196,803		647,094	533,405
Assets	6,882,169				6,882,169		5,862,386
Global ECS [Member]
Sales:
Sales	1,537,999		1,220,209		4,539,002	3,681,844
Operating income (loss):
Operating income	53,710		35,479		156,480	102,415
Assets	2,406,890				2,406,890		2,836,006
Corporate [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Operating income	(38,726)	[1]	(47,763)	[1]	(126,914)	(116,840)
Assets	$ 579,668				$ 579,668		$ 902,146

[1] Includes restructuring, integration, and other charges of $8,848 and $23,676 for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 and $14,338 and $27,424 for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively. Also included in the first nine months of 2011 is a charge of $5,875 related to the settlement of a legal matter.