James,

Thank you for the comment. I hope you keep poking about our site.

Interpreting the crystal ball on this technology is one part science and one part darts. My crystal ball sees dual core as indeed a performance increase. That's a given with any new processor product at the top of its line.

When you look at it from a consumer cost point of view it begins to make a bit of sense. It's ideal for workstation users who have a desire for a bit more "horsepower" than a single processor system but don't have/want to spend more $ for a dual processor system.

Dual core brings some of the benefits of a dual processor system at less than the cost of a 2P system with the two of the same processor equivalents.

Remember that it's not so much about flat out dragstrip speed anymore. A dragster isn't much good at towing your boat down the highway. It's more about having that big truck with the towing power...that can keep up with the dragster or at least give it a good run for its money.

For server environments it's the same way of thinking. Many run dual processor servers but would really like a 4P server to really go to town. But then there's that cost factor. A dual core system can bump them up between a 2P and 4P system for some aspects of performance (increased multitasking) but without that cost.

For those with oodles of money? Imagine a 4P or an 8P system with dual core processors...that would translate up to a psuedo 8P or 16P system. Interesting if anyone tries to make an 8P dual core system actually work...just for the heck of it.

Bottom line dual core isn't exactly the same as a two physical processor system but it's better at some things than a single processor system. On launch this is more a product for working rather than playing...

In time...it'll become more affordable for us enthusiasts then we'll play too!