HP built this version of the Omnibook for heavy AI use, so it comes with HP’s AI Companion pre-installed, and includes the full Copilot+ suite of AI applications and features.
I generally avoid AI software in my personal life, and HPAI’s companion proved to be a pretty standard AI assistant chatbot in testing. However, you need to sign in with an HP, Google, or Microsoft account to use it. Regardless, between Copilot+ already residing in Windows 11, and popular alternatives from OpenAI and Google ready to go, it makes little sense to prioritize an HP AI companion over its PC personalization feature.
One of my biggest personal struggles in embracing Arm-based Windows computers is app support. While Qualcomm and Microsoft have done a lot to build a library of Windows apps that support ARM processors natively, and Microsoft’s Prism emulation tool is still the best, the last few apps that still don’t work on ARM-based PCs put me off.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
However, for school or general use around the house, you may never run into this shrinking problem (perhaps, trying to print documents from a laptop using an old printer). For example, the biggest differences in the library of Windows apps supported by Arm, the Autodesk Suite and parts of the Adobe Creative Suite are specialized tools such as Substance 3D or Enchantment. Gaming, of course, is another weak spot for Arm-based PCs, though Qualcomm continues to push the gap, such as partnering with Epic Games to improve compatibility.
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If you need a laptop that can handle specialized design software or advanced PC gaming, this isn’t for you anyway, and for reasons beyond just app compatibility. Thus, the arm chip in this omnibook is perfect for its target audience. Of course, if you have a specific app you need to run on your next computer, just double-check if it’s compatible with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X-series silicon before hitting the “buy” button.
