If you have an official board, when you install the Arduino IDE, it installs the drivers so that no special action is required.
For clones, you typically do have to download and install drivers for their built-in serial adapter (since they use a different one from the official board). But when you use a clone, you're paying about 1/5th of what you would pay for an official board! (and they do generally work, once correct driver is in)
Basically, if you want a trouble-free setup experience suitable for a new Arduino user, buy an official board not a clone.
If you know what you're doing, and know how to google for drivers and follow directions, then go ahead and save money with the clones and deal with the process of configuring them (though - like I do - I recommend periodically donating some money to Arduino if you're using it actively to support continued development).