Investments (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 28, 2011

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENTS

The following table summarizes, by major security type, the fair value and amortized cost of Dell's investments. All debt security investments with remaining maturities in excess of one year and substantially all equity and other securities are recorded as long-term investments in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

	October 28, 2011									January 28, 2011
	Fair Value		Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized (Loss)			Fair Value		Cost		Unrealized Gain		Unrealized (Loss)
	(in millions)
Investments:
U.S. government and agencies	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	58	$	58	$	—	$	—
U.S. corporate	260		260		—		—			254		253		1		—
International corporate	285		285		—		—			140		140		—		—
Total short-term investments	545		545		—		—			452		451		1		—
U.S. government and agencies	—		—		—		—			21		20		1		—
U.S. corporate	1,480		1,481		2		(3		)	242		243		—		(1		)
International corporate	521		522		1		(2		)	317		317		—		—
Equity and other securities	182		122		60		—			124		124		—		—
Total long-term investments	2,183		2,125		63		(5		)	704		704		1		(1		)
Total investments	$	2,728	$	2,670	$	63	$	(5	)	$	1,156	$	1,155	$	2	$	(1	)

Dell's investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale. Equity and other securities primarily relate to investments held in Dell's Deferred Compensation Plan, which are classified as trading securities.  Equity and other securities also include equity investments that began trading during the first nine months of Fiscal 2012 which are classified as available-for-sale securities. Dell recorded unrealized gains of $60 million as of October 28, 2011, for these investments in accumulated other comprehensive income.  The remaining equity and other securities are initially recorded at cost and reduced for any impairment losses. During the three months ended October 28, 2011, Dell recognized a $39 million impairment charge associated with one of its investments, which is included in Interest and other, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Security classes reported at fair value use the specific identification method. The fair value of Dell's portfolio can be affected by interest rate movements, credit, and liquidity risks. Dell's investments in debt securities have contractual maturities of less than five years.