Following the trend of high-definition TV manufacturers, notebook makers have started incorporating screens with 16:9 aspect ratios into their systems. While consumers are losing some productivity space in the name of economics—16:9 screens are shorter and cheaper to make than 16:10 displays—the new dimension caters more toward nonwork activities. And we’re not just talking about Blu-ray discs; sites such as Fox.com and even YouTube now present streaming videos in a widescreen, high-definition format.

While 16:9 displays come in all sizes, from ultraportables to desktop replacements, it’s starting to look like the 16-inch screen is the sweet spot for consumers who want to be able to enjoy watching movies without squinting but also to move their notebook around somewhat easily. Getting the price of these systems below $1,000 is also critical in today’s economy, but there are tradeoffs: none of these sytems has a true HD (1920 x 1080) screen, but all can output via HDMI, and only one comes standard with a Blu-ray drive. Still, all capably straddle the divide between work and play.