Wide screen

The length and width of a widescreen notebook’s screen set it apart from the standard notebook. The average notebook uses an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The widescreen notebook breaks with tradition and increases screen size 25% lengthwise for proportions equal to that of the cinema screen or a widescreen LCD TV.

Wide Screen Dispaly sizes
The wide screen display may have started it all, but it is by now considered only as a small-sized widescreen notebook, which is anything below 12.1". Currently on offer are 8.9", 10.6", 11.1", 12.1", 13.3", 14", 15.4", and 17" display sizes, with 19" products reportedly in the pipeline.

Widescreen Resolutions
1.800 x 480
2.1024 x 600
3.1280 x 768 & 1280 x 800
4.1280 x 854
5.1366 x 768
6.1440 x 900
7.1680 x 1050
8.1920 x 1200

Benefits of the Widescreen
When used for entertainment, a widescreen display is in its element when showing widescreen DVD movies in their intended 16:9 aspect ratio. This means a bigger picture more comfort and less wasted space (less or no black bands on either side of the picture). The widescreen display also makes it easier to edit and view panoramic images and may eliminate troublesome horizontal scrolling altogether. When editing images of normal 4:3 aspect ratio, you can simply place your GUI tools/utilities to the unused spaces on either side of an image. In any case, a widescreen display can help you increase work (and play) efficiency.

Is the Widescreen Display Perfect?
We’ve covered a lot of the widescreen display’s positive points, but that doesn't mean that there are no drawbacks. Here are some of them:
a. The first and most obvious drawback is price, with the widescreen display being quite a bit pricier than the corresponding 4:3 display This is also the reason why widescreen displays are so ubiquitously absent at the entry level price points, though the gap is getting closer.
b. The next problem is an issue of mobility, although this really points to notebook sizes 15" and above. It does depend, however, on the design philosophy of the manufacturer - some use the desktop replacement mentality and cause their products to be quite large in size and therefore heavier as well.
c. Compatibility with applications - especially games - may be an issue as many games are programmed to be displayed in 4:3 aspect ratio. Depending on your settings, you will experience black bands to the sides of the image, or you may try and stretch the image, which will look uncomfortable in any case. Certainly more and more, if not all, games today are compatible with widescreen display.