Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended	39 Months Ended	51 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards	$ 58,800,000	$ 19,500,000	$ 46,900,000		$ 46,900,000	$ 19,500,000
International reorganization of acquired companies	0.30%	0.00%	3.20%
Decrease in income tax provision if the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was enacted before year end	66,500,000
Effective income tax rate	24.10%	19.70%	24.50%
Effective income tax rate if American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 were enacted prior to year end	22.40%
Net operating loss carryforward, federal	247,000,000
Net operating loss carryforward, state	349,900,000
Net operating loss carryforward, foreign	58,500,000
Valuation allowance	4,350,000	5,293,000				5,293,000
Basis differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries consisted of undistributed earnings	8,100,000,000	6,400,000,000				6,400,000,000
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	11,400,000,000
Income before income taxes from foreign operations	1,900,000,000	1,800,000,000	1,200,000,000
Income before income taxes from domestic operations	1,900,000,000	1,500,000,000	1,400,000,000
Prior period reclassification adjustment to decrease deferred tax liability and increase additional paid-in capital	352,600,000			499,600,000	467,100,000	352,600,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would have been recorded as a reduction to income tax expense	255,100,000	187,100,000	217,300,000		217,300,000	187,100,000
Net reduction in uncertain tax positions		71,000,000
Recognition (reversal) of previously recorded interest expense resulting from third party settlement	3,600,000	1,200,000	1,100,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest and penalties	35,000,000	31,600,000	30,500,000		30,500,000	31,600,000
Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	5,600,000
Foreign
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	62,500,000
VMware
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	4,600,000,000
International Entities [Member] | VMware
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	3,000,000,000
International Entities [Member] | EMC
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term and long-term investments	2,700,000,000
Other non-current assets
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net non-current state and foreign deferred tax assets	$ 65,000,000	$ 81,500,000				$ 81,500,000