Network computer providing mass storage, broadband access, and other enhanced functionality

A network computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device containing an embedded operating system that is executed by the processor;
• a broadband network communication circuit coupled to the processor;
• the broadband network communication circuit being adapted provide the processor with broadband access to a computer network to thereby access computer resources coupled to the computer network;
• and
• a mass storage device coupled to the processor, the mass storage device having a first partition for storing user preference data and a second partition for storing user file data that may be accessed by the processor, the mass storage device having a user preferences reset device and a user file data reset device, the user preferences reset device operable to reset at least some of the user preferences data without reset of the user file data when activated and the user file data reset device operable to reset at least some of the user file data without reset of the user preferences data when activated.

A network computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device containing an embedded operating system that is executed by the processor, the embedded operating system including at least one system parameter;
• a first reset device coupled to the memory device, the first reset device operable, when activated, to set at least one of the system parameters of the embedded operating system to a desired value;
• a network communication circuit coupled to the processor;
• the network communication circuit being adapted to allow the processor to communicate over a computer network with computer resources coupled to the network;
• and
• a mass storage device coupled to the processor, the mass storage device including a user preferences partition and a user file data partition that contain user preference data and user file data, respectively, that may be accessed by the processor;
• a second reset device coupled to the mass storage device, the second reset device operable, when activated, to set at least some of the user preference data to desired values independently of setting any of the system parameters set by the first reset device;
• and
• a third reset device coupled to the mass storage device, the third reset device operable, when activated, to set at least some of the user file data to desired values independently of setting any of the system parameters set by the first reset device.

A method of operating a network computer system including a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device containing an embedded operating system that is executed by the processor, and the embedded operating system including at least one system parameter, the method comprising:

• providing the processor with broadband access via a computer network to computer resources coupled to the network;
• providing mass storage for user preference data and user file data in a user preferences location and a user file data location, respectively, the data being accessible by the processor;
• and
• independently resetting system parameters associated with the embedded operating system, user preference data, and user file data in response to first, second, and third reset requests, respectively.