No, I don't think so. I use Java/Spring in my day job, Python/Django for my own projects, and I don't think the use case for each is changed significantly by faster disks.
Ruby/Python aren't only best for 'prototyping', they're best for building your MVP and launching your product. If and when you get a bazillion users and your app starts creaking around the edges, then sure, rewrite some components in Java as necessary, as Twitter did; until then it's a premature optimization IMHO.
Note that speed isn't the only consideration: the other place where Java (and C#) shines is readability and ease of refactoring. If you're a stage one startup where all your developers are rockstars, this doesn't matter so much, but if half your dev team are grads or journeymen, it's a major factor.
So I can't see Java going away any time soon, but equally I can't see the resurgence that Cringely talks about.
Ruby/Python aren't only best for 'prototyping', they're best for building your MVP and launching your product. If and when you get a bazillion users and your app starts creaking around the edges, then sure, rewrite some components in Java as necessary, as Twitter did; until then it's a premature optimization IMHO.
Note that speed isn't the only consideration: the other place where Java (and C#) shines is readability and ease of refactoring. If you're a stage one startup where all your developers are rockstars, this doesn't matter so much, but if half your dev team are grads or journeymen, it's a major factor.
So I can't see Java going away any time soon, but equally I can't see the resurgence that Cringely talks about.