Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (195,521)	$ (333,514)	$ (581,154)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	(4,948)	0
Amortization of premium (discount) on marketable debt securities	(38)	574	(907)
Loss (gain) on cost method investments	(7,249)	0	5,328
Change in fair value of embedded redemption feature	(2,800)	(2,510)	0
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(13,807)	0
Depreciation of equipment, furniture and fixtures, and amortization of leasehold improvements	60,154	42,789	21,933
Impairment of goodwill	0	0	455,673
Share-based compensation costs	37,930	35,560	34,438
Amortization of intangible assets	95,927	127,018	31,429
Deferred tax provision	183	700	(883)
Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence	17,334	13,696	15,719
Provision for warranty	18,451	15,353	19,286
Other	5,396	2,296	2,044
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition:
Accounts receivable	(75,623)	(218,196)	20,097
Inventories	14,209	(40,957)	(10,353)
Prepaid expenses and other	(18,302)	(34,908)	(9,678)
Accounts payable, accruals and other obligations	(59,285)	180,814	2,943
Deferred revenue	18,749	1,030	1,506
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(90,485)	(229,010)	7,421
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Payments for equipment, furniture, fixtures and intellectual property	(52,367)	(51,207)	(24,114)
Restricted cash	10,751	(24,521)	(4,116)
Purchase of available for sale securities	(49,892)	(63,591)	(1,214,218)
Proceeds from maturities of available for sale securities	0	454,141	645,119
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities	0	179,531	523,137
Proceeds from sale of cost method investment	6,544	0	0
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	0	(693,247)	0
Receipt of contingent consideration related to business acquisition	16,394	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,570)	(198,894)	(74,192)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of senior convertible notes payable	0	725,000	0
Repayment of senior convertible notes payable	0	(76,065)	0
Debt issuance costs	0	(20,301)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants	13,202	1,570	1,107
Net cash provided by financing activities	13,202	630,204	1,107
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(938)	682	700
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(146,791)	202,982	(64,964)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	688,687	485,705	550,669
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	541,896	688,687	485,705
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for interest	32,931	12,248	4,748
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net	3,204	1,705	584
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Purchase of equipment in accounts payable	6,431	5,259	1,481
Debt issuance costs in accrued liabilities	0	206	0
Fixed assets purchased under capital leases	$ 1,106	$ 0	$ 0