CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	$ 15,434,151,000	$ 12,733,156,000
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	(11,577,038,000)	(9,567,360,000)
Dividends and interest received	77,706,000	92,834,000
Interest paid	(54,683,000)	(41,621,000)
Income taxes paid	(395,539,000)	(180,403,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,484,597,000	3,036,606,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(601,177,000)	(541,866,000)
Capitalized software development costs	(342,091,000)	(272,492,000)
Purchases of short and long-term available-for-sale securities	(5,589,382,000)	(5,091,454,000)
Sales of short and long-term available-for-sale securities	3,945,683,000	2,362,878,000
Maturities of short and long-term available-for-sale securities	877,510,000	261,631,000
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(536,624,000)	(851,380,000)
Increase in strategic and other related investments	(459,711,000)	(5,642,000)
Purchase of leasehold interest	(151,083,000)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,856,875,000)	(4,138,325,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of EMC's common stock from the exercise of stock options	501,627,000	552,846,000
Issuance of VMware's common stock from the exercise of stock options	285,286,000	355,846,000
EMC purchase of VMware's common stock	(342,201,000)	(289,587,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	318,717,000	210,711,000
Payment of long-term and short-term obligations	(1,263,000)	(3,755,000)
Proceeds from long-term and short-term obligations	1,253,000	1,116,000
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,626,705,000)	(259,030,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	5,455,000	(1,158,000)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(993,528,000)	(1,361,907,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,119,138,000	6,302,499,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,125,610,000	4,940,592,000
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	1,736,295,000	1,317,261,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,048,151,000	862,964,000
Non-cash interest expense on convertible debt	76,398,000	78,731,000
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	(2,325,000)	3,114,000
Stock-based compensation expense	613,233,000	484,141,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	8,525,000	18,599,000
Deferred income taxes, net	83,657,000	(41,355,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(318,717,000)	(210,711,000)
Other, net	(28,740,000)	(9,192,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable	(56,076,000)	(14,380,000)
Inventories	(416,898,000)	(55,862,000)
Other assets	(157,024,000)	(127,401,000)
Accounts payable	(75,263,000)	(71,839,000)
Accrued expenses	51,747,000	(38,343,000)
Income taxes payable	(13,740,000)	242,244,000
Deferred revenue	1,048,545,000	602,477,000
Other liabilities	(113,171,000)	(3,842,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,484,597,000	3,036,606,000
Parent
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	(1,899,208,000)	(800,267,000)
VMware Member
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	$ (490,916,000)	$ (285,940,000)