AFAIK, N version does not include IE and WMP. However, both can be downloaded and installed (if one wants them that is).
It has IE just no WMP. I just installed it and can not find the scripts to change the activation files to the normal Windows Ultimate so I can use a loader!
the original N that leaked the same time as the first RTM had neither IE ,or WMP , it was not ,however, officially released and microsoft later released N1 ,that had only WMP removed . the early version had no IE to comply with European requirements (just like the E version) as it was not released officlally (same as E) microsoft decided to use normal versions with IE ,and instead opt for a browser choices update . (N1 ,is now known as just N)