3:2 is actually one of the first ratios that was sold as widescreen in a laptop, on Apple’s original version of the Powerbook G4. The term is ill-defined though.

I still like 4:3. It’s not that I’m old-fashioned. It’s that on a 15″ laptop screen, it’s just wide enough for two windows full of code side by side. I’d gain little of value in that application from more width, but the height lets me see more at once. I’m sad that there’s nothing on the market for me anymore, and I hope the Pixel heralds the return of some variety.

A wider screen is always more practical for dealing with multiple windows. I suppose that I should’ve been more clear, because I was referring to the fact that the Pixel simply doesn’t have a wide display. Yes, it might have more screen area than notebooks with actual widescreen displays, but it’s just not as wide, therefore making dealing with multiple windows a hassle.

The Pixel has a screen area of 76.2 square inches – slightly more than the 75.6 of a 13.3″ diagonal 16:9 screen. Apple’s 13.3″ diagonal 16:10 screens have 79.5 square inches.