Here's a quick lesson for those of you who are obviously mathematically-challenged. The squarer the screen, the more visible area you get for the same advertised size (19"). As they make screens wider and wider, you're getting suckered into less and less space. Maybe you geniuses will figure it out when they're 19 - 25 inches wide and 1 inch tall.

#1 calm the burp down your post is irrelevant, you sound like you're trying to be a genius who is the only one that realizes it, like its some conspiracy theory.

This can just be me, but i prefer wide screens because of the horizontal space. I also think wide screens or rectangles are way better than squares.

#1 you must be multitasking challenged, it sure is nice to place 2 spread sheets side by side also widescreen gaming, DUH!

actually #1 is quite accurate. You do indeed get cheated. The average 24" widescreen that is 1080P and not 1920x1200 is about the size of a 20" monitor. There is no guideline for the height that is calculated with the width, as long as the width matches the advertised amount.

oh hey, lets do some model cheating. Remember for simplicity that a 20"x20" monitor = 400 square inches. Here are 4 monitor models, all 23 or 24" and yet aren't truly 24". We have the VW266H at 444.15 square, showing $319 on newegg (pre-discounts). We have the W2353V at 359.16 square, showing $219. We haev a VX2433wm at 371.25 square, showing $234. We have the T240 at 424.88 square, showing at $309.

Oh right, so half of the 23s are actually smaller than the old 20". Way to suckle the marketing gimmicks of "its' better for widescreen" (hint: it's not)

ah stupid double post

True on the bang for buck regarding diagonal lengths. However our TWO EYES are positioned horizontally, a widescreen is better for more efficient viewing and for creating a closer wraparound illusion. Why do you think movie screens are not 4:3?

Early CRTs were practically round, since the gun can only rotate in a "cone". Modern squarish CRTs actually throw away potential viewable emitting area, since a squarish screen chops off the emission area that would have been the tops and sides of a circle.

And remember, on 4:3 CRT monitors you truly get cheated. Remember "viewable area" and those big monster bezels? Some monitors actually shorted you as much as 1.5 inches on the diagonal measurement compared to the advertised value. So you get cheated twice, 1) on the viewable area, and 2) on the missing area for that the gun rotates in a circle.

Anyway, use this site to make sure you buy a widescreen monitor size that equals the vertical value of your old 4:3 monitor: http://www.displaywars.com/19-inch-16x10-vs-22-inch-16x9

Also there are some of us who prefer a widescreen view. People who do audio work, we prefer a widescreen because it mimics the layout of a mixing console better than a square monitor.

@ #7 Keep in mind that non widescreen computer monitors are traditionally 5:4 not 4:3. So the difference is a little greater than that site leads you to believe.

#5, your first monitor example is not 23 or 24". It's a 25.5" monitor.

How is it being cheated? It's the diagonal measurement. There's no deception there. Do you scream you got cheated on your widescreen TV? If I replace my old 50" with new WS 50", I know it's not the same size. Am I cheated? No, you get a larger size if you want the same real estate.

Geez, you people are the masters of the obvious. Either that or you just like to complain.

And if vertical height is your main need, heck just buy a widescreen monitor that rotates 90 degrees. You'll get 9x16, a way superior ratio than 5:4!

So what are some good monitors that aren't "cheating you" and don't cost a bazillion dollars?

No monitors are "cheating" you. Just realize what aspect ratio it is and go from there.

99% of the monitors are widescreen anyways, so this is pretty much a moot point.

It's still a good sized monitor for the price. Or a good price for the size, however you want to look at it.