Marketing, for sure. "They" sold us on the idea that widescreen is better somehow. The REAL reason we have mostly widescreen today is $$$, of course. (Using a widescreen format instead of the former "conventional" parameters, makers can get one extra cover panel per blank.)
Widescreen is better, you just have to learn how to divide it up right to show multiple windows. I have a 30" Samsung widescreen. Usually I have divided into 4ths showing 4 windows. This makes it like having 4 15" monitors. If you have a smaller sized widescreen monitor divide side by side in half. Check out the program called WinSplit for automatically splitting your monitor into sections. http://winsplit-revolution.com/
lots of old timers on here that are used to square.......pretty should the 98% of the world prefers widescreen......and for those of you crying about taller screens.....well you can turn a widescreen on its side you brainiacs
There's a 28" Inc monitor (widescreen) selling for 340 on tigerdirect. My uncle bought it to view movies and it's pretty huge, but the height doesn't have much on my 19" square (only about 2-3"). I believe for trading squares are the tool of the trade. I will be looking to buy a 24-26" square in the future, if I can find one.
Beware that the physical dimension of a monitor is one thing (like 26", 28")... the resolution is another. If you have a 28" monitor with only a resolution of 1680 x 1050, it would be like sitting two feet away from your 52 inch old style projection TV. The images are huge but grainy. What for?
The largest conventional screen you're likely to find is 21", UXGA, 1600x1200.... and they'll be rather expensive.
Tall, skinny monitors (widescreens turned sideways) happen to be IDEAL for viewing many things, such as e-mail, RSS feeds, etc. Try it before you dismiss the idea. And/or use both widescreens and squares..if you can afford it. hah