Visionary insights or just his perspective. (Score 1)

I think it's both. Bob Metcalfe invented the Ethernet network protocol, which has evolved to into the standard that most network run on. It got that way because he gave it the headroom for it to evolve. He also can see the limitations that today's OSes bring to the table. Bob also accurately forecasted the collapse of the Internet stock bubble before anyone else that I knew of. I took his advice and got out ahead of the collapse. I think I would cut Bob some slack and agree with him that a new look at hardware and OSes may be the best way to fuel a new wave of true innovations. Change is hard when you spent years learning Cobol then suddenly everyone jumps onto the C++ bus. People will gravitate to the best party. It's only the hosts that need to decide on closing down theirs to join the other celebration. And perceptions can only go so far, that's why Microsoft is fighting furiously to stave off the Linux onslaught. The inevitable will come, it's just a matter of who brings it.