Is headphone jack the same as speaker jack?

I am wondering because I just bought a Toshiba laptop this afernoon and it only has a headphone jack.

I want to hook my laptop to my home stereo. Also, to use hig quality speakers.

My understanding is that headphone jacks do not output the same quality of sound as sound card jacks.

Is that right?

Are there laptops with both types of outputs?

thanx.

I need to know idf I should return this laptop asap. Sound quality is fairly important to me. This laptop is going to deliver sound in my home as well as in dance studios.

I would like to inform you that the jack provided on your Toshiba Laptop for the headphones can also be used with any speakers which has the same pin as that of jack provided on your laptop. Actually it some of the laptop provides speaker's logo and some comes with the headphones logo beside the jack. I guess you should try connecting your sound system by using the same jack.
And sound quality provided on your laptop does not differ for headphone with the home theater system. It is just upon capacity of your speakers and an amplifier as many highly capable sound system also can work from the laptops.