| Before I attempt to answer that, let's lay down | | | | As far as TomTom is concerned, they have a |
| some ground rules. I'm sure you can find some | | | | new entry level GPS called the TomTom EASE, |
| knock-off from some unknown company, which | | | | which I like a lot. It's ever so slightly more |
| says it has text to speech. And it may well have. | | | | expensive than the nuvi 255, but it's got text to |
| But the problem is it will last about three weeks, if | | | | speech, plus TomTom's proprietary MapShare |
| that. You'll have no support. And the maps will be | | | | technology, which is sort of a user generated |
| completely out of date. So, let's not count "junk" | | | | mapping feature. One thing that's really great |
| in with our cheapest GPS with text to speech | | | | about the TomTom EASE is that's it's really, really |
| survey. | | | | easy to use! When you turn it on, there are only |
| So, let's stick with the top manufacturers, Garmin, | | | | two icons to choose from. You don't have to |
| TomTom and Magellan. We'll talk about their | | | | read instructions to be on your way to a new |
| products in order. | | | | destination, and of course, hearing the street |
| Garmin has put text to speech capability in all but | | | | names said to you as you drive. |
| a very few of their nuvi series. Their cheapest | | | | Magellan's lowest priced text to speech models |
| GPS with text to speech right now is the nuvi | | | | are little pricier than Garmin's or TomTom's. The |
| 255. At just over $100, the nuvi 255 is a very | | | | Magellan Maestro 4220 and 3220 both sell for |
| solid little device. It has a 3.5-inch touch screen | | | | around $150. (The 4220 is slightly more |
| and text to speech voice instructions. Although, it | | | | expensive, because it's got a wide screen.) Of |
| would have been considered state of the art only | | | | course, these come with lots of great Magellan |
| a few years ago, the nuvi 255 today is well...a little | | | | features that no one else has, like having the |
| lacking in bells and whistles. | | | | Triple A Auto Club tour book right on the device. |
| You can spend $50 more and get a variety of | | | | (Accessible if you're a member of Triple A Auto |
| nuvis with text to speech and lots of other | | | | Club. If you're not, it's cheap to join.) |
| goodies, like Bluetooth so you can use your phone | | | | So, bottom line, if you're looking for the cheapest |
| with the device. But as far as being the cheapest | | | | GPS with text to speech, you have a lot to |
| GPS with text to speech, the nuvi 255 is probably | | | | choose from, and you don't have to end up with |
| it, for Garmin, that is. | | | | some no name model. |