Of course they appealed, it'll take months, if not years for this to happen. However, it's not only about money:
As well as the fine, Microsoft is to be ordered to offer a version of its Windows operating system without Windows Media Player and to encourage computer makers to provide other audiovisual software.
It must also license information to make the servers of rivals more compatible with Windows desktop machines.
I find it unlikely that Microsoft would include 3rd party audiovisual software on their CDs, so customers would have to download / buy them separately. Now, these average users who just click on media files and expect them to play, and who also remember Windows Media Player, would they install, say, VideoLAN client? I don't think so, because they've probably never heard of it. They've never have to hear about it, because WMP has played their files. So I think they'll just end up buying WMP separately (or downloading for free).
This also brings out a question which, if I remember correctly, was asked by Rick in our previous forum - how much software should be included in an operating system? Better to create a new thread about this, but I don't think I've ever seen an operating system, with graphical user interface, without some form of audiovisual software. The main difference between Windows and others (I don't know about Mac OS) is, however, that the applications aren't 'locked in'. But again, everyday users don't even think about changing their players, and I don't think they would know how to, either.
