1 whole Bitcoin is worth about $100. Another way you can get some bitcoins is you can buy some from an exchange like Mt. Gox. Too bad they're not $10 a piece like sometime back. Once you get mining you'll have lots of bitcoins depending on your computing power. I would go solo after you get a few bitcoins from mining in a pool. After you go solo, you get the big bucks. I have no real experience on mining so someone might have better advice.