[moreira]

> A run-of-the-mill laptop can simulate quantum computers with as many as 40 or 50 qubits

This got me to wondering if there's a readily-available quantum computer emulator or something of the kind, and it turns out there's even one built with JS and WebGL![0] This seems really interesting if you want to learn more about what the quantum fuss is all about.

[0]: http://www.quantumplayground.net

[Strilanc]

There's also drag-and-drop in-browser circuit simulators, which can be a bit more approachable than the quantum computing playground's scripting UI.

Davy Wybiral's simulator: http://www.davyw.com/quantum/

Quirk (my simulator): http://algorithmicassertions.com/quirk

Of course you'll still be lost if you have no context for what a quantum computer even is. For that there's the youtube series Quantum Computing for the Determined ( https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1826E60FD05B44E4 ). It's by the co-author of the de-facto textbook for the field, and done in a Khan Academy style.