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posted by cmn32480 on Sunday May 21 2017, @10:31AM   Printer-friendly
from the maybe-IBM-isn't-all-services dept.

https://www.hpcwire.com/2017/05/18/ibm-d-wave-report-quantum-computing-advances/

IBM said this week it has built and tested a pair of quantum computing processors, including a prototype of a commercial version. That progress follows an announcement earlier this week that commercial quantum computer developer D-Wave Systems has garnered venture funding that could total up to $50 million to build it next-generation machine with up to 2,000 qubits.

[...] Meanwhile, IBM researchers continue to push the boundaries of quantum computing as part of its IBM Q initiative launched in March to promote development of a "universal" quantum computer. Access to a 16-qubit processor via the IBM cloud would allow developers and researchers to run quantum algorithms. The new version replaces an earlier 5-qubit processor.

The company also rolled on Wednesday (May 17) the first prototype of a 17-qubit commercial processor, making it IBM's most powerful quantum device. The prototype will serve as the foundation of IBM Q's commercial access program. The goal is to eventually scale future prototypes to 50 or more qubits.

The article also notes Hewlett Packard Enterprise's prototype of "The Machine", with 160 terabytes of RAM.


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  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Monday May 22 2017, @02:05AM (3 children)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 22 2017, @02:05AM (#513263) Journal

    But, is there any profit growth left in "big iron" pushing HTML or spreadsheets?

    I don't see the point of abandoning a mature industry with a high profit margin for an unproven one, with extremely little development at present and little relevant to IBM's current business model. More likely is that IBM has grown so inefficient that they compete poorly in considerable portions of their old markets.

  • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday May 22 2017, @03:45AM (2 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Monday May 22 2017, @03:45AM (#513300)

    Laying off your high priced older employees isn't abandoning an industry, it's cost control. They can still service the old accounts and continue to milk them.

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    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Monday May 22 2017, @03:59AM (1 child)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 22 2017, @03:59AM (#513307) Journal
      I think that's a better take on the situation. It's still short-sighted, since the experience is in the people they're getting rid of, but at least it a saner course of action.
      • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday May 22 2017, @01:21PM

        by JoeMerchant (3937) on Monday May 22 2017, @01:21PM (#513471)

        It's a really shitty thing to do as a "corporate citizen" and it is often not as effective as the spreadsheets say it will be since one older employee earning $125K per year can often bring more income to a company than 3 younger employees earning $50K per year (and the cost difference to the company is more like $225K for the old one vs $375K for the 3 younger ones).

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