Dr Meyer's flight of fancy shows that such computers could also operate comfortably in the area of game theory, with all that implies for modelling complex systems and, presumably, for games themselves.

ECONOMIST: Quantum computing

Obviously, Sybase is not enough to make SAP entirely relevant in scope and scale (and it goes without saying that in this land of giants, Sybase was not large enough to survive on its own.) But it picks up a solid asset, with businesses in financial modelling and mobile databases that are essential for SAP to stay in the game.

FORBES: SAP's Big Problem

More reliable money came from modelling, from a number of autobiographies ghost-written, endorsing consumer products and commenting on the game on television.

ECONOMIST: George Best