The Core Solo process is basically half of a Core Duo processor. I'll explain.
The Intel Core Duo processor is a chip with two processors sitting side-by-side. For some modern applications (video editing is actually a good example), the two chips can be used at the same time to double the speed of the application. For most things, only one of those processors will be in use at once. Very advanced games will also take advantage of this, but none released so far (that I know of) do yet.
The Intel Core Solo is just an Intel Core Duo chip, where one of the two side-by-side processors didn't work right during the factory tests, and was shut off intentionally. Unless you're using an application that would take advantage of the additional chip, you'd never notice the difference between the Solo and the Duo, and so Intel can get away with selling the slightly-defective Duo at a markdown price.
My advice is to go with the Duo. The difference in processing power is minimal, and it will be longer before you have to upgrade the Duo to meet the needs of more advanced software. You'll get more life out of it, and a DVD writer is very nice. Plus, if you do video editing (and you use good software for it), you'll actually get some use out of the dual processor right now.
"Not this again!" Minerva said. "Albus, it was You-Know-Who, not you, who marked Harry as his equal. There is no possible way that the prophecy could be talking about you!" - Harry Potter and the Method of Rationality, Chapter 84
The Intel Core Duo processor is a chip with two processors sitting side-by-side. For some modern applications (video editing is actually a good example), the two chips can be used at the same time to double the speed of the application. For most things, only one of those processors will be in use at once. Very advanced games will also take advantage of this, but none released so far (that I know of) do yet.
The Intel Core Solo is just an Intel Core Duo chip, where one of the two side-by-side processors didn't work right during the factory tests, and was shut off intentionally. Unless you're using an application that would take advantage of the additional chip, you'd never notice the difference between the Solo and the Duo, and so Intel can get away with selling the slightly-defective Duo at a markdown price.
My advice is to go with the Duo. The difference in processing power is minimal, and it will be longer before you have to upgrade the Duo to meet the needs of more advanced software. You'll get more life out of it, and a DVD writer is very nice. Plus, if you do video editing (and you use good software for it), you'll actually get some use out of the dual processor right now.
"Not this again!" Minerva said. "Albus, it was You-Know-Who, not you, who marked Harry as his equal. There is no possible way that the prophecy could be talking about you!" - Harry Potter and the Method of Rationality, Chapter 84