Description Of Business	3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2013
Description Of Business [Abstract]
Description Of Business	Note 1—Description of Business Netlist, Inc. (the “Company” or “Netlist”) designs and manufactures a wide variety of high performance, logic‑based memory subsystems for the global datacenter and high-performance computing and communications markets. The Company’s memory subsystems consist of combinations of dynamic random access memory integrated circuits (“DRAM ICs” or “DRAM”), NAND flash memory (“NAND”), application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”) and other components assembled on printed circuit boards (“PCBs”). Netlist primarily markets and sells its products to leading original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) customers. The Company’s solutions are targeted at applications where memory plays a key role in meeting system performance requirements. The Company leverages a portfolio of proprietary technologies and design techniques, including efficient planar design, alternative packaging techniques and custom semiconductor logic, to deliver memory subsystems with high memory density, small form factor, high signal integrity, attractive thermal characteristics, reduced power consumption and low cost per bit. Our NVvault™ product is the first to offer both DRAM and NAND in a standard form factor memory subsystem as a persistent DIMM in mission critical applications. Netlist was incorporated in June 2000 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. In 2007, the Company established a manufacturing facility in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), which became operational in July 2007 upon the successful qualification of certain key customers. Liquidity The Company incurred net losses of approximately $3.2 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 30, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $89.9 million as of March 30, 2013. In addition, the Company used cash in operating activities of approximately $58,000 for the three months ended March 30, 2013. As a result of continuing losses, the Company was out of compliance with the tangible net worth debt covenant contained in our credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. On January 23, 2013, we entered into a forbearance agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (the “Forbearance Agreement”), pursuant to which Silicon Valley Bank agreed to forbear from filing any legal action or instituting or enforcing any rights and remedies it may have against us as a result of our violation of the financial covenants until February 28, 2013. On March 27, 2013, the effectiveness of the Forbearance Agreement was extended until April 30, 2013. The Company is in the process of working with the Bank to extend the forbearance period through June 30, 2013. The Company is also working with Silicon Valley Bank to obtain a waiver of our non-compliance or to otherwise amend the agreement to increase our likelihood of regaining compliance with the financial covenants. However, we may be unable to obtain such a waiver. If we are unable to obtain a waiver, additional forbearance or a modification to the required liquidity levels, the lender could accelerate all of our outstanding obligations under the credit agreement. In addition, we could lose vendor credit should the letters of credit issued under the credit agreement become unavailable. If that were to occur, we may be unable to quickly obtain equivalent or suitable replacement financing. If we were not able to secure alternative sources of funding, such acceleration would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition. In addition to renegotiating the credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, the Company’s management is evaluating potential financing opportunities and alliances or other partnership agreements with potential strategic partners. The Company is also planning to reduce its expenses and continue its efforts to qualify new and enhanced products with its OEM customers. The Company raised net proceeds of approximately $3.9 million in the year ended December 29, 2012 and approximately $1.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 under a sales agreement with Ascendiant Capital Markets LLC (“Ascendiant”). In addition, on December 20, 2012, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $1.3 million in a registered public offering (“Offering”) of its securities (see Note 10). The Company may raise additional funds through the Company’s agreement with Ascendiant or through other sources. The Company may be limited in its ability to benefit from the agreement with Ascendiant if the volume of its shares traded in the market or the market price of its shares remains low. If adequate working capital is not available when needed, the Company may be required to significantly modify its business model and operations to reduce spending to a sustainable level. Insufficient working capital could cause the Company to be unable to execute its business plan, take advantage of future opportunities, or respond to competitive pressures or customer requirements. It may also cause the Company to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs, or to reduce or cease operations. While there is no assurance that the Company can meet its revenue forecasts or successfully renegotiate the terms of the credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, management anticipates that it can successfully execute its plans and continue operations for at least the next twelve months.

Note 1—Description of Business

Netlist, Inc. (the “Company” or “Netlist”) designs and manufactures a wide variety of high performance, logic‑based memory subsystems for the global datacenter and high-performance computing and communications markets. The Company’s memory subsystems consist of combinations of dynamic random access memory integrated circuits (“DRAM ICs” or “DRAM”), NAND flash memory (“NAND”), application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”) and other components assembled on printed circuit boards (“PCBs”). Netlist primarily markets and sells its products to leading original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) customers. The Company’s solutions are targeted at applications where memory plays a key role in meeting system performance requirements. The Company leverages a portfolio of proprietary technologies and design techniques, including efficient planar design, alternative packaging techniques and custom semiconductor logic, to deliver memory subsystems with high memory density, small form factor, high signal integrity, attractive thermal characteristics, reduced power consumption and low cost per bit. Our NVvault™ product is the first to offer both DRAM and NAND in a standard form factor memory subsystem as a persistent DIMM in mission critical applications.

Netlist was incorporated in June 2000 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. In 2007, the Company established a manufacturing facility in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), which became operational in July 2007 upon the successful qualification of certain key customers.

Liquidity

The Company incurred net losses of approximately $3.2 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 30, 2013 and March 31, 2012, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $89.9 million as of March 30, 2013. In addition, the Company used cash in operating activities of approximately $58,000 for the three months ended March 30, 2013. As a result of continuing losses, the Company was out of compliance with the tangible net worth debt covenant contained in our credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.

On January 23, 2013, we entered into a forbearance agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (the “Forbearance Agreement”), pursuant to which Silicon Valley Bank agreed to forbear from filing any legal action or instituting or enforcing any rights and remedies it may have against us as a result of our violation of the financial covenants until February 28, 2013. On March 27, 2013, the effectiveness of the Forbearance Agreement was extended until April 30, 2013. The Company is in the process of working with the Bank to extend the forbearance period through June 30, 2013. The Company is also working with Silicon Valley Bank to obtain a waiver of our non-compliance or to otherwise amend the agreement to increase our likelihood of regaining compliance with the financial covenants. However, we may be unable to obtain such a waiver. If we are unable to obtain a waiver, additional forbearance or a modification to the required liquidity levels, the lender could accelerate all of our outstanding obligations under the credit agreement. In addition, we could lose vendor credit should the letters of credit issued under the credit agreement become unavailable. If that were to occur, we may be unable to quickly obtain equivalent or suitable replacement financing. If we were not able to secure alternative sources of funding, such acceleration would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.

In addition to renegotiating the credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, the Company’s management is evaluating potential financing opportunities and alliances or other partnership agreements with potential strategic partners. The Company is also planning to reduce its expenses and continue its efforts to qualify new and enhanced products with its OEM customers.

The Company raised net proceeds of approximately $3.9 million in the year ended December 29, 2012 and approximately $1.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2011 under a sales agreement with Ascendiant Capital Markets LLC (“Ascendiant”). In addition, on December 20, 2012, the Company raised net proceeds of approximately $1.3 million in a registered public offering (“Offering”) of its securities (see Note 10). The Company may raise additional funds through the Company’s agreement with Ascendiant or through other sources. The Company may be limited in its ability to benefit from the agreement with Ascendiant if the volume of its shares traded in the market or the market price of its shares remains low.

If adequate working capital is not available when needed, the Company may be required to significantly modify its business model and operations to reduce spending to a sustainable level. Insufficient working capital could cause the Company to be unable to execute its business plan, take advantage of future opportunities, or respond to competitive pressures or customer requirements. It may also cause the Company to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs, or to reduce or cease operations. While there is no assurance that the Company can meet its revenue forecasts or successfully renegotiate the terms of the credit agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, management anticipates that it can successfully execute its plans and continue operations for at least the next twelve months.