  This is a brief review of the experimental and theoretical quantum computing.
The hopes for eventually building a useful quantum computer rely entirely on
the so-called "threshold theorem". In turn, this theorem is based on a number
of assumptions, treated as axioms, i.e. as being satisfied exactly. Since in
reality this is not possible, the prospects of scalable quantum computing will
remain uncertain until the required precision, with which these assumptions
should be approached, is established. Some related sociological aspects are
also discussed. .
