Microsoft has put up an ad comparing various Windows tablets to the iPad.

So bigger is better right? On their original ad they claimed that the ASUS VivoTab Smart tablet had more area than the iPad.

But Elliot Temple claims the following:

How can the screen with a larger diagonal measurement be smaller? Because it’s a different shape. Long and thin gets you a bigger diagonal but a smaller screen, for the same diagonal inches.

Who’s right? Microsoft or Elliot? Great math involved here.

[edit – 5/28/13: This post links in very nicely with the Mathalicious lesson Viewmongous. Thanks Fawn Nguyen!]