Riding D-Wave

This is just a bit above my pay grade as an amateur futurist, and a fascinating area that I can only begin to

Is this a quantum computer?

fathom.

When the scientists are squabbling among themselves as to whether this is or isn't what is claimed, then I know that it's going to take a lot of study to even begin to get my head around this stuff.

A special breed of computers able to solve problems that it would take other computers years to crack, assuming they could do it at all?

Check out this article about the D-Wave quantum computer on the excellent BBC Future website.

Big bets on quantum computers (BBC Future)

How does a quantum computer work? (HowStuffWorks)

What is a quantum computer? (The Economist)