Balance Sheet Details (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 28, 2012		Jul. 30, 2011		Jul. 31, 2010
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 127		$ 219
Work in process	35		52
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	630		631
Manufactured finished goods	597		331
Total finished goods	1,227		962
Service-related spares	213		182
Demonstration systems	61		71
Total	1,663		1,486
Property and equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building and leasehold improvements	4,363		4,760
Computer equipment and related software	1,469		1,429
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,364		5,093
Operating lease assets	300	[1]	293	[1]
Furniture and fixtures	487		491
Property, plant and equipment, gross	11,983		12,066
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(8,581)	[1]	(8,150)	[1]
Total	3,402		3,916		3,941
Other assets:
Deferred tax assets	2,270		1,864
Investments in privately held companies	858		796
Other	754		441
Total	3,882		3,101
Deferred revenue:
Service	9,173		8,521
Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue	2,975		3,003
Cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors	732		683
Total product deferred revenue	3,707		3,686
Total	12,880		12,207
Current	8,852		8,025
Noncurrent	4,028		4,182
Total	$ 12,880		$ 12,207

[1] Accumulated depreciation related to operating lease assets was $181 and $169 as of July 28, 2012 and July 30, 2011, respectively.