[tappaseater]

I have been confused by Quantum Computing and have been reading and watching as much as possible on the topic. I can never seem to grasp the potential. I keep thinking about classical problems. Like what if I multiply a real number by a number consisting of qbits? Or what happens to bitwise operations with qbits?

Then, something I read to the effect that we need to stop thinking of QC as solving classical problems but solving different problems at least reassured me I wasn't too dumb to get it.

[cwmma]

From what I understand, there is at least one problem that is basically impossible to solve (in a useful amount of time) on classical computers, but theoretically solvable on a quantum computer (in a useful amount of time). That problem is breaking modern asymmetric encryption with shores algorithm. So there is at least that one concrete problem they can (theoretically) solve.

[margorczynski]

The biggest application of quantum computers is simulating quantum processes - so physical and chemical simulations. Simulating superposition and entanglement on a classical computer is extremely demanding, on a QC it comes naturally.

It most probably will never replace classical computers.