The first time we used the NAV740, it took a while for the device to sync. According to V7, this is because the GPS device must connect to at least four satellites. You can speed this process up by remaining still and ensuring that you are in an area free of skyscrapers and other objects that might block communication with the satellites. It’s a good idea to perform the initial sync ahead of time, because the initial sync is somewhat slow, but subsequent syncs are much faster.

The NAV740 has a bright, responsive 4.3-inch color touchscreen with 480- x 272-pixel resolution. The on-screen buttons are large and easy to see and access, even while driving, making the device easier and safer to use on the road than some GPS units. The main menu has four large buttons: V7 Navigation, Multimedia, Calculator, and Settings. You can also clearly see the main menu’s date and time.

Under the Settings menu, you can set the units of distance in centimeters, meters, kilometers, inches, feet, yards, or miles. There are maps of all 50 U.S. states preloaded on the NAV740, which has a preinstalled basemap on the bundled 2GB SD card. A DVD is included with backup copies of the maps in case you ever need to restore the map data.

The NAV740 includes Text-To-Speech, which lets it speak the actual name of streets rather than just telling you how far to travel before turning. For example, the voice on the NAV740 said, “Turn left onto Fletcher Avenue in 500 feet” instead of simply saying, “Turn left in 500 feet.” This is a great feature, especially if you aren’t the best at estimating distances. Also, if you miss your turn, the device will notice it and automatically recalculate the route and suggest where to turn to get back on track.

Some portions of the NAV740’s operation were very intuitive. For example, it was simple to navigate the device’s list of more than 11 million POIs (points of interest), which we used to find restaurants, gas stations, sporting events, and parks. You can also add your own POIs. It was also easy to switch between Map and Street views. However, some operations, such as redefining a starting point, didn’t come to us naturally.

The NAV740 comes with a USB AC adapter and a DC car charger for the included 1,600mA lithium-polymer battery, which provides up to five hours of general use or up to 3.5 hours of GPS navigation. This GPS unit runs Microsoft Windows CE .NET 5.0, and GPS navigation is provided by V7 Navigation Software, which is preloaded on the NAV740. The device has a built-in multimedia player that can play most audio, video, and image formats, including MP3, WMA, and OGG audio; MPEG4, AVI, and WMV video; and GIF, JPG, and TIFF images.

Overall, the V7 NAV740 is a great companion on the road; it provides excellent navigation and is easy to use. It can also record your mileage, the amount of time you spend driving, and other information you’ll need to file travel-expense reports. Additional features, such as the built-in media player, provide added benefit.

by Kylee Dickey