Quantum computers, Qubits, Entanglements

World’s first commercial quantum computer sold to Lockheed Martin for $10 million! including service and support, of course.

So what is a quantum computer?  From the article:

Unlike computers based on transistors, quantum computers rely on principles of quantum mechanics to conduct operations. The computers take advantage of properties like entanglement — when two particles have the same properties and behave identically while being separate — and storing data with “qubits,” or quantum bits. Typical bits store memory by registering an “on” or “off,” or a one or zero, while qubits can represent information as both memory and the state of entanglement with other particles.

Qubits?  Entanglements?  What on earth are qubits?  Great word for fictionary.  Had to look them up to see for sure.  Sounds like they are three or four dimensional bits.  The description of them and their entanglements reminded me of Doctor Who's TARDIS which everyone should know stands for Time and Relative Dimensions in Space.  Lockheed's Skunk Works has always been cutting edge tech but.really .... Time Lords?  Seriously?

So much for Tyler Cowen's Great Stagnation. 

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit