widescreen problems

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Which resolution do you use? Can you provide your /etc/X11/xorg.conf, the Ubuntu version you are using and the graphics card/driver?

Screen Res: I am using 1280*960. The higher resolutions either stretch the screen way too much (1280*1024) or contract the width of the screen (1440*900).

I don't think I can attach files here, so the xorg.conf file looks like this...

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Intel Corporation 82945G/GZ Integrated Graphics Controller"
 Driver "intel"
 BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
 Option "UseFBDev" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "VA1703wSERIE"
 Option "DPMS"
 HorizSync 24-70
 VertRefresh 50-75
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Intel Corporation 82945G/GZ Integrated Graphics Controller"
 Monitor "VA1703wSERIE"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Modes "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Hm, as the ratio of 1440x900 (native resolution of the panel) and 1280x960 don't match you will always get that stretching, I suppose. I would recommend to use the native resolution of your display.

As I said, 1440*900 renders at least two inches of my screen useless. There has to some other way...

Hm, the OSD-Menu of the display should be able to correct this in 1440x900 mode. If that does not work, 1280x800 could also be a solution as this resolution has the same ratio.

Neither of them work. I tried 1280X1024. Slightly better, but the images are still stretchy.

Is your monitor connected via VGA-cable? If it is, try setting the resolution to 1440x900 (the native resolution for your panel), and hit the "Auto" (or something like that) button on your monitor.