Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Additional information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 VMware	Mar. 31, 2013 Restructuring 2013 Programs Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Restructuring 2013 Programs	Mar. 31, 2013 Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware Positions	Mar. 31, 2012 Restructuring 2012 Programs Positions	Dec. 31, 2012 Restructuring 2012 Programs Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations	Mar. 31, 2013 Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Mar. 31, 2013 Workforce reductions Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Workforce reductions Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Workforce reductions Restructuring 2013 Programs VMware
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Acquisition-related Charges	$ 147,724,000	$ 25,893,000
Assets Held-for-sale, Current			26,900,000
Restructuring charges	81,700,000	24,200,000	53,800,000			53,847,000					0	53,847,000
Asset Impairment Charges			9,000,000
Acquisition-related charges	1,900,000	1,700,000	1,300,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated				1,004			800	298	1,163
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost					80,000,000									15,000,000	60,000,000		25,000,000	65,000,000
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost, to be Settled with Cash					73,000,000								60,000,000			75,000,000
Lease termination costs for facilities	7,100,000	3,700,000
Date of completion of workforce reduction and/or consolidation of facilities				within a year of the start of each program		by the end of 2013	through the end of 2013		2013	2015
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current			$ 27,200,000