Screen resolution anomalies

My 3 desktop machines all use widescreen (1400x900) monitors and all exhibit identical anomalies.

Suse 11 insists on a 1400x960 resolution - although the monitor resolution is correctly identified!

The consequence of this is that I must move the mouse to the bottom of the desktop to reveal the taskbar or the top to scroll it down to access the icons (or to grab a window to move it somewhere that I can see it all).

Is this a “feature”?

Even worse if I set the resolution to 1400x900, then the taskbar disappears altogether so that I cannot access anything!

What make of widescreen monitor? Have you tried a live CD - Ubuntu or Knoppix to see if they detect and configure the monitor OK?
If they do then suggest that you submit a bug fix request

Most widescreen 19" LCD monitors I’ve seen where 1440 x 900. Are you sure your’s are 1400?