As Apple apparently prepares to go small with the iPad Mini, every other tablet maker is going large, bringing out tablets that dwarf the 9.7-inch iPad. All can render web sites, maps and business dashboards gorgeously, without taxing the shoulder strength of the user (well, in most cases).

Not only are tablet makers going big, but they are also bringing back the convertible tablet-laptop, but under a new name, ‘laptablet’. They hope that technical and weight-saving advances in touchscreens, chips and batteries, along with Windows 8′s mobile-oriented overhaul will finally attract customers – especially enterprises overwhelmed by the iOS-led BYOD invasion.

Here are 17 interesting, over-sized tablets available today or coming soon >> ZDNet Photo Gallery