Lena Torres
The Lenovo ThinkPad T420 is a business laptop with a matte display, making it suitable for use in various environments, including outdoors. While the laptop's audio quality is described as surprisingly adequate, with maximum volume being sufficiently loud and clear, it is unclear whether it has optical sound. The laptop features an optical drive, and users can extend the battery life by replacing it with a three-cell bay battery. However, it is not specified whether this affects the optical sound capabilities of the device.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Display diagonal | 14 inches |
| Dimensions | 30.5x340.5x233mm |
| Display brightness | Over 200 cd/m2 |
| Display resolution | 1600x900 |
| Display type | Matte display |
| Battery | Standard six-cell battery |
| Battery life | 4-5 hours |
| Docking | ThinkPad Mini Dock Plus Series 3, ThinkPad Port Replicator Series 3 |
| Use | Business laptop |
| Sound | Surprisingly adequate, maximum volume is loud and clear |
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What You'll Learn
The ThinkPad T420 has an external audio input
While the T420 doesn't excel in terms of audio quality, it does offer sufficient volume and clarity. The maximum volume is loud and clear, although it does have typical laptop issues with bass and distortion.
If you're looking for extended battery life, you can purchase a three-cell bay battery that replaces the optical drive. This will give you up to eight hours and thirty-nine minutes of endurance during reading, which is quite impressive.
Additionally, the T420 has a docking port on its bottom, allowing you to connect to docking stations. This can be useful if you want to avoid reconnecting cables after mobile use or if you find cables disturbing in your work area.
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Speakers on the laptop stopped working after an upgrade
The Lenovo ThinkPad T420 does have an optical drive. However, it is unclear if it has optical sound.
If your laptop speakers stopped working after an upgrade, there are several things you can try. Firstly, check that your laptop isn't muted by mistake. Laptops often include a mute button or shortcut that you may have accidentally pushed. You can check this by left-clicking the speaker icon in the system tray. If it has an X next to it, click or tap it to unmute. You can also try using the physical mute button or function key shortcut if your laptop has one.
Next, try plugging in a set of headphones or earbuds. If you hear sound from your headphones, then there is either a problem with the software or driver responsible for switching outputs, or there is a physical problem with your laptop speakers. Make sure the audio sensor isn't stuck, as laptops use a sensor to detect whether headphones have been plugged into the audio jack.
You can also try updating your audio driver. Outdated or malfunctioning drivers can cause hardware problems. If updating the driver doesn't work, try uninstalling it (it will reinstall automatically). If that doesn't work, try using the generic audio driver that comes with Windows. If you're having audio issues after installing updates, try rolling back your audio driver.
If you're still having issues, check your speaker and headphone connections for loose cords or cables. Make sure all cords and cables are plugged into the correct jack. If it's not clear which jack goes with which cord, consult your hardware manufacturer or try the most obvious outputs one at a time.
If you still can't get your speakers to work, there may be an issue with the wiring or physical defects in the speakers that you can't see easily just by looking at them. In this case, you should consider taking your laptop to a professional.
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The T420 has an audio combo socket
The Lenovo ThinkPad T420s is a business laptop with a matte display, making it possible to use the laptop in various environments, even outdoors. The T420s has an audio combo socket, an optical drive, an ExpressCard34, a 4-in-1 card reader, a USB 2.0, a USB/eSATA combo port, and a Kensington Security slot.
The T420s also has an excellent keyboard and a durable design. While the audio quality of the ThinkPad brand has never been a focus, the sound emitted by the T420s is surprisingly adequate. It has the typical laptop issues with bass and distortion, but the maximum volume is sufficiently loud and clear.
The T420s comes with a standard six-cell battery, which lasted just one hour and nine minutes in the Battery Eater's Standard Test but lasted a reasonable five hours and thirty-two minutes in the Reader's Test. Typical mobile use will result in between four and five hours of endurance. If you need more battery life, you can buy a three-cell bay battery for $120, which replaces the optical drive and extends the battery life by about two hours in the Standard Test and about three hours in the Reader's Test.
There is also an optional nine-cell battery for those who need even more battery life. The T420s is an excellent laptop for business users and consumers who prefer a good keyboard and durable design over flashy aesthetics.
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The T420 does not have an optical audio output
The Lenovo ThinkPad T420 is a business laptop that comes with a standard six-cell battery. It has a matte display, making it possible to use the laptop in various environments, including outdoors. The T420 does not have an optical audio output, but it does have an optical drive. The laptop also features a docking port, an ExpressCard34 slot, a 4-in-1 card reader, a USB 2.0 port, a USB/eSATA combo port, and a Kensington Security slot.
While the T420 does not have an optical audio output, it does have an audio combo socket. This socket combines the audio input and output into a single connector, which is typically a 3.5mm jack. This jack can be used to connect headphones or speakers for audio output, but it does not support optical audio output.
Optical audio output, also known as a Toslink connection, is a digital audio connection that uses light to transmit audio signals. It provides a high-quality, distortion-free audio experience and is often used in home theatre systems and high-end audio equipment. However, not all laptops or audio devices support optical audio output, and the T420 is one such example.
Instead of optical audio output, the T420 relies on its built-in speakers or the audio combo socket for audio output. The laptop's audio quality is surprisingly adequate, with maximum volume being sufficiently loud and clear. However, it still exhibits typical laptop issues with bass and distortion.
While the absence of optical audio output may be a drawback for users seeking a high-end audio experience, the T420 offers other features that cater to business users and those prioritizing functionality and durability over flashy aesthetics. It is known for its excellent keyboard and long battery life, with the standard six-cell battery providing between four and five hours of endurance during typical mobile use.
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The T420 has an internal microphone
The ThinkPad T420 does have an internal microphone. It is located near the webcam.
If you are having trouble with the microphone, there are a few things you can try. Firstly, check your settings. If the microphone works with one application but not others, then it is likely a software setting in either the application or Windows.
If you are using a Linux operating system, the reason the internal microphone is not recognised may be because your profile in the pacmd list-cards output is set to "
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Frequently asked questions
The ThinkPad T420 does not feature optical sound. However, it does have an audio combo socket.
An alternative laptop with optical sound could be the MacBook Pro.
The ThinkPad T420's dimensions are 30.5x340.5x233mm.
The ThinkPad T420 comes with a standard six-cell battery, lasting between four and five hours in typical mobile use.
