Of course the Logitech mouse can be plugged and will just work without installation. The software allows to customize buttons, macros, DPI ranges, lights, etc. Still sucks, but it's not really needed to make it work or use it.

Simple mouses have simple interfaces and its functions are built into the OS. These mouses are a little bit beyond simple. These are ten button interfaces. So there is the default programming. And custom programming. The software is for custom programming.

Another alternative is a utility called xmouse.

some mice still have "on-board" memory and i look for that when getting one these days, that way you can configure it using the program from wherever (my work laptops tend to have windows), and the profiles or whatever live on the mouse, so you can plug it into another computer and it works without installing the software again

> In my Linux boxes, I just plug in a standard mouse and get the standard functions.

That'll work with Logitech mice too. It's only for all the extra buttons and functions that you need their software.

Not long ago mouses came with a paper manua, a CD with drivers, and if you we're paying top dollar, a desktop application that would let you set defaults for the entire OS for the one or two extra buttons you used to get.