CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	$ 6,023,588,000	$ 5,392,175,000
Cash paid to suppliers and employees	(4,114,849,000)	(4,009,553,000)
Dividends and interest received	18,483,000	33,927,000
Interest paid	(1,342,000)	(4,749,000)
Income taxes paid	(237,692,000)	(277,023,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,688,188,000	1,134,777,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(153,631,000)	(165,525,000)
Capitalized software development costs	(105,848,000)	(111,993,000)
Purchases of short and long-term available-for-sale securities	(1,585,822,000)	(1,601,241,000)
Sales of short and long-term available-for-sale securities	1,439,393,000	1,341,335,000
Maturities of short and long-term available-for-sale securities	273,982,000	261,228,000
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(102,105,000)	(14,950,000)
Decrease (increase) in strategic and other related investments	10,100,000	(198,049,000)
Other, net	5,000,000	(45,000,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(218,931,000)	(534,195,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of EMC's common stock from the exercise of stock options	180,189,000	224,347,000
Issuance of VMware's common stock from the exercise of stock options	111,041,000	90,171,000
EMC purchase of VMware's common stock	(39,993,000)	(38,000,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	106,024,000	109,008,000
Payment of long-term and short-term obligations	(355,000)	(11,000)
Proceeds from long-term and short-term obligations	2,742,000	294,000
Payment of convertible debt	(1,699,816,000)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,340,168,000)	(629,985,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	11,050,000	12,597,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	140,139,000	(16,806,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	4,531,036,000	4,119,138,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	4,671,175,000	4,102,332,000
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	625,979,000	502,554,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	367,453,000	339,272,000
Non-cash interest expense on convertible debt	9,323,000	26,291,000
Non-cash restructuring and other special charges	4,477,000	382,000
Stock-based compensation expense	200,572,000	212,265,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,472,000	6,415,000
Deferred income taxes, net	(52,320,000)	(10,834,000)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(106,024,000)	(109,008,000)
Other, net	(8,987,000)	(8,316,000)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable	299,977,000	223,464,000
Inventories	(96,249,000)	(102,729,000)
Other assets	(19,580,000)	(127,747,000)
Accounts payable	(28,686,000)	(136,802,000)
Accrued expenses	(167,584,000)	(121,190,000)
Income taxes payable	5,538,000	(144,550,000)
Deferred revenue	619,761,000	554,678,000
Other liabilities	25,066,000	30,632,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,688,188,000	1,134,777,000
Parent
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	0	(868,065,000)
VMware
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	$ 0	$ (147,729,000)