What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

Residential Solar Power

There is so much talk about solar power being the way ahead for people to produce their own power that I am wondering if there are any downsides to it all?

Solar power for homes doesn't seem to have been around for very long and I am wondering whether solar technology is stable enough to really be a long term investment for my home.

I am sure that residential solar power is different from the stuff they use in big factories and places that have a heavy load, but I am worried about getting all the solar kit installed just to have it break in a year or two.

So what are the advantages to getting solar power installed in my house?

What are the disadvantages to getting solar power installed at home?