Summary Of Cash, Cash Equivalents And Investments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2012		Oct. 31, 2011
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost	$ 967,728		$ 1,007,909
Gross Unrealized Gains			296
Gross Unrealized Losses Less Than 12 Months			(149)
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value	967,728	[1]	1,008,056	[1]
Classified As Current Assets, Total
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost	963,767		1,003,927
Gross Unrealized Gains			296
Gross Unrealized Losses Less Than 12 Months			(149)
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value	963,767	[1]	1,004,074	[1]
Non-interest bearing cash (U.S. and International)
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost	229,522		149,998
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value	229,522	[1]	149,998	[1]
Money Market Funds (U.S.)
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost	185,000		55,267
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value	185,000	[1]	55,267	[1]
Cash Deposits And Money Market Funds (International)
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost	549,245		649,812
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value	549,245	[1]	649,812	[1]
Strategic Investments
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost	3,961		3,982
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value	3,961	[1]	3,982	[1]
Municipal securities
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Cost			148,850
Gross Unrealized Gains			296
Gross Unrealized Losses Less Than 12 Months			(149)
Gross Unrealized Losses 12 Months or Longer
Estimated Fair Value			$ 148,997	[1]

[1] See Note 5 for further discussion of fair values.