Mitosis versus Meiosis I: What's the difference?
At the start, all the cells are 2n, diploid cells. By far the largest difference between meiosis I and mitosis is that mitosis results in genetically identical, diploid somatic cells. Meiosis, in it's entirety, results in gametes of haploid genetic information, but the genetic information is not identical due to crossing-over events that happened during meiosis I. 

What you should also note from the figure: Each chromatid represents 1 DNA molecule. In mitosis, the cell will begin with 4 chromosomes and 8 chromatids. After cytokinesis, the somatic cell will have 4 chromatids and 4 chromosomes. This propagates during the next round of mitosis. In meiosis: The cell starts with 8 chromatids and 4 chromosomes. After meiosis I each cell has 4 chromatids and 2 chromosomes. After meiosis II, each cell has 2 chromatids and 2 chromosomes. You're halving the amount of genetic material each round of meiosis, and this can't be propagated indefinitely.



Source: Tortora, GJ (2008). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 12th ED.