* * * * *

                    But it will still save on electricity

> Even for the crazy world of quantum mechanics, this one is twisted. A
> quantum computer program has produced an answer without actually running.
>
> …
>
> This scheme could have an advantage over straightforward quantum computing.
> “A non-running computer produces fewer errors,” says Hosten. That sentiment
> should have technophobes nodding enthusiastically.
>

Via Flares into Darkness [1], “Quantum computer works best switched off [2]”

While it's true that a computer turned off produces vast amounts of nothing
really fast, so does a burned out light bulb. And the very fact that there's
still a program means there are bugs (proof? “Every program has at least one
bug and can be shortened by at least one instruction—from which, by
induction, one can deduce that every program can be reduced to one
instruction which doesn't work.” Q.E.D. (“quod erat demonstrandum”—which was
to be demonstrated)”) so it's still far from evident that a non-running
quantum computer will have fewer errors than a running quantum computer.

I guess these guys haven't heard of Heisenbugs [3].

[1] http://yargb.blogspot.com/2007/07/weekly-links_11.html
[2] http://www.newscientist.com/channel/fundamentals/quantum-
[3] http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/H/heisenbug.html

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