Whether or not you want to use Google's services isn't just a choice you make when buying your next HP-branded laptop: The search engine giant recently announced that all HP laptops will soon come pre-installed with a new app called Google Essentials.
Google Essentials for HP Laptops
Technically speaking, Google Essentials isn't an entirely new app; the company says it simply serves as a one-stop shop for users to “discover and install many of Google's best services.” It'll be featured in the start menu across the entire HP lineup, including Spectre, Envy, Pavilion, OMEN, and Victus, as well as the upcoming Omnibook series (which will replace Spectre, Envy, and Pavilion models under one unified brand).
The types of apps you get from each HP laptop also appear to vary. Google says that OMEN owners will have access to Google Play Games right away (also accessible via the OMEN Gaming Hub), and features like in-game progress and rewards will sync between Android devices and PCs. Other apps Google mentioned include Google Photos, Google Messages, Docs, Drive, and Calendar.
However, if you're not interested in the Google life, you can uninstall it from your PC or delete the apps you don't want at any time. The company says that the Essentials app will be expanded to more laptops and desktops “in the coming months,” though no brand names have been revealed so far.
Pokdepinion: I guess this means one more app taking up limited space in the already crowded Windows 11 Start menu.