Edit: Jesus Christ, people. If you buy a $150 Thinkpad made by slave labor instead of a $1,200 MacBook made by slave labor, you're still supporting a capitalist economy based on slave labor. We all do. We have no choice. The number of smug liberals in the comments saying "well I buy a cheap used laptop" or "well I buy coffee beans and make my own coffee" are completely missing the fucking point.
Don't tell yourself your consumption is moral. All of us make unethical choices every day because there is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Accept your shame and guilt and let it drive you to do better.
I edited my post above. Looks like you can replace the speakers, but it's a lot more work and a lot more chance of fucking up than I'm willing to chance. Maybe I'll just get a bluetooth speaker.
if you ever have the money to spare, and want to fuck around, you can always buy another cheap thinkpad that doesn't work, and give it a shot, or buy a cheap working one that you don't particularly care for. There are options.
Oh, and LOTS of information online.
It might be fun to tinker with someday, but for now, I found a $10 bluetooth speaker that will work. Thanks though!
thats definitely a valid solution.