Installing Windows is now very easy. Under Linux, this can sometimes be complicated because of the many distributions and dependencies. Not tried on Mac OS X, but must go alone. Trs software evolves quickly, and frequently changes release.
It is recommended that both Linux on Windows or MacOS to also install the free text editor jEdit (requires Java) which, using an extension facilitates Whereas the WRITING of text file that will create the partition (assistants, using the WRITING, syntax).
Under Linux, it can be very useful to install rosegarden4 because it benefitted from its publisher WYSYWYG partition. It then exports in Lilypond, and converted (by hand, in a console ...) file export the very latest version of Lilypond we install. I did not even test me, but Lilypond can also import files generated by Final!
The online manual is clear trs is sufficient, but must speak English and spend 365 sheets of paper to print the complete manual PDF. In French, it was just an online tutorial that allows you to put your foot the sort.
Since Lilypond is multiplatform and can write his scores in any text editor, it MRIT the highest score!

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I do run on many computers, the less powerful with PIII 600 MHz, the faster a P4 3 GHz. Compiling a source file (mode of Lilypond) is relatively slow, but it's not really teachers (except with one big partition on slow computers). With practice, it does not compile his life.
The set is perfectly stable. The problem is more than matrise user WRITING syntax of a source file that Lilypond program itself (a simple compiler)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for eight months. I love the extraordinary quality of printed output produced: one would swear by a partition serious matre of yesteryear! The various outputs are universally usable. It also produces a MIDI file of CONTRL, sometimes quite useful. Lilypond is also free software (and free), which runs on both Linux and Windows. If - like me - is used squenceur rosegarden4 Linux, it was almost a WYSYWYG interface, and the work of the output file in a simple text editor allows to make almost perfect so-adj entered.
on the other hand, if compltement product "by hand" the source file dcrivant the partition (such as a computer program), it requires a learning time (relatively short), but which, by the result of move quickly if used regularly.
Lilypond gure can be compared to a partition editor WYSYWYG (usable Fawn playful and instinctive, but gives a partition "tinker"). It is simpler and more powerful than MusiXTeX, a system that now deprecated only feature specialist in only).
The report qualitprix is ​​irrelevant to such software. The only cost is to put the time to learn the syntax WRITING (which is logical and clear). It is worth if we write a lot of partitions. In this case, I think it's the best Systm production of high quality scores.
After learning that, in view about the results obtained, I do not think anyone regrets that choice (free software) ...
To be convinced of the quality achieved, to load some of the scores produced by the project bnvoles Mutopia:
http://www.mutopiaproject.org/
and see the quality. pdf files!