And the fact that Microsoft are allowing homebrew devs to make their own open drivers for the device is pretty shocking.
To my knowledge Microsoft has no control over the Kinetic's IP as they didn't develop it, and hence it is not their right to allow or disallow anything of the sort. Asus has already arranged an agreement to bring a Kinetic device specifically designed for PC to market, based on their relations with the company that developed it. Indeed the Asus version is supposed to be hitting the market this quarter.
Microsoft also is not Apple. They don't simply patent troll on general principle, and their preferred tendencies deviate more towards burying you through mostly legitimate iterative competition. Linux vexes their normal tactics as it takes iterative development further then they really can get away with, and being free short circuits their textbook FUD tricks while also offering the entity using it more control. That is why ultimately they will most likely lose, although the loss may not really be a victory in the end result. Things are... complicated like that.
I've been seeing some reports
here regarding M$'s new console and how M$ are planning to steal the thunder away from Nintendo at next month's e3.
Given Microsoft's handling of it's recent acquisition of Skype, Ballmer might actually do it.
"The rumored console is still at the early stages of development and does not even have a design. The console is reportedly being stored in a PC case." -Article
I can believe this is true, but what it basically amounts to is textbook Microsoft FUD tactics combined with fishing among the the software developers for what they want, while not actually having anything done yet. Creating uncertainty and doubt by announcing a new, theoretically better, product to spoof your competition is classic Microsoft tactics for invading a market and toppling the current market leader afterall.
If they do, do this they will in turn force Sony's hand and PC gamers won't have as much to complain about for at least a little while. If that one VP responsible for the Ribbon Interface and making Windows 7 the refined OS it is, is involved we might see something rather interesting in the end result that'll give Nintendo a real run for its money. I'd like to see him ultimately in charge, as a charismaless marketing guy like Ballmer simply isn't the right person to lead the company.