CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	$ 22,584,805	$ 21,144,690	$ 17,585,447
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	(16,018,457)	(15,218,678)	(12,830,684)
Dividends and interest received	103,174	135,971	102,912
Interest paid	(32,751)	(70,071)	(76,711)
Income taxes paid	(374,352)	(323,097)	(232,121)
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,262,419	5,668,815	4,548,843
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(819,159)	(801,375)	(745,412)
Capitalized software development costs	(419,079)	(442,341)	(362,956)
Purchases of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	(6,346,580)	(7,180,169)	(6,329,894)
Sales of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	4,982,790	5,121,454	3,625,260
Maturities of short- and long-term available-for-sale securities	1,048,979	1,130,321	437,297
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(2,135,758)	(536,624)	(3,194,611)
Purchases of strategic and other related investments	(117,103)	(329,483)	(24,946)
Sales of strategic and other related investments	70,623	29,007	148,813
Joint venture funding	(227,881)	(383,211)	(29,600)
Proceeds from divestiture of business	58,100	0	0
Purchase of leasehold interest	0	(151,083)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,905,068)	(3,543,504)	(6,476,049)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of EMC’s common stock from the exercise of stock options	560,275	673,389	780,732
Issuance of VMware’s common stock from the exercise of stock options	253,159	337,618	431,306
EMC purchase of VMware’s common stock	(290,294)	(399,984)	(399,224)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	260,747	361,632	281,872
Payment of long-term and short-term obligations	(15,629)	(27,089)	(4,128)
Proceeds from long-term and short-term obligations	4,604	3,096	4,066
Payment of convertible debt	(1,699,816)	0	0
Interest rate contract settlement	(69,905)	(140,993)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,148,952)	(1,718,502)	(243,827)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	14,625	5,089	(12,328)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	223,024	411,898	(2,183,361)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,531,036	4,119,138	6,302,499
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,754,060	4,531,036	4,119,138
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	2,886,017	2,608,885	1,969,686
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,527,748	1,421,598	1,167,550
Non-cash interest expense on convertible debt	46,178	102,907	105,649
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	12,974	(1,484)	6,861
Stock-based compensation expense	895,384	822,576	667,728
Provision for doubtful accounts	39,313	20,255	18,965
Deferred income taxes, net	(117,573)	(19,423)	(49,787)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(260,747)	(361,632)	(281,872)
Gain on XtremIO common stock	(31,599)	0	0
Other, net	20,337	4,573	(21,250)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable	(535,371)	(391,672)	(405,758)
Inventories	(458,663)	(393,156)	(114,111)
Other assets	174,386	(61,830)	(54,469)
Accounts payable	89,299	34,871	154,496
Accrued expenses	(64,238)	5,147	4,162
Income taxes payable	660,819	336,711	455,964
Deferred revenue	1,366,961	1,508,520	957,114
Other liabilities	11,194	31,969	(32,085)
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,262,419	5,668,815	4,548,843
Non-cash investing and financing activity:
Issuance of common stock and stock options exchanged in business acquisitions	23,572	3,224	28,668
Investment in joint venture	32,745	0	0
Parent
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	(684,559)	(1,999,968)	(999,924)
VMware
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	$ (467,534)	$ (526,203)	$ (338,527)