Even Microsoft's mice and keyboards don't work when you first plug them in, Windows has to spin its wheels and "install a driver" (which it notifies you about) before they will work. If you're online with Windows Update, your computer will then offer to download some sort of control center for your mouse and keyboard. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Those are for application specific mapping of the special keys. They might appear mandatory, but aren't. Keyboards and mice run fine without any extra drivers. I own four different models.
