Finale NotePad isn't really a demo. It's a so-called "introductory program" that happens to be a free download from Coda. It does let you print, as I recall, but doesn't do MIDI, but you can't upgrade that particular program to anything better than what you get when you load it. The Finale demo is something else entirely.

They give NotePad away in hopes you'll get so frustrated with enjoy it that and you'll come back and buy the good stuff. For $24.95 you can get NotePad Plus, that includes MIDI, and might even have some sort of instruction book - although there's nothing indicated on the Coda site; but even with it you're pretty limited to simple stuff.

For a "beginner level" program in the Coda/Finale line, I'd hesitate to recommend anything less than their PrintMusic, which is about $70 US. It's a decent enough program, but I can't get too excited about it; and I'm still looking for a good replacement for my old Rhapsody program.

The Finale link at 06 Jan 04 - 10:44 PM above will get you info on the whole Coda line.

NotePad, NotePad Plus, and PrintMusic bear virtually NO resemblance to the real "Finale." If you want to look at it, you can down load the real Finale 20024 free demo at the same link. Unless they've changed it recently, the demo is the "full program," and can be activated simply by buying and typing in the "unlock" code. It's something of a monster, compared to the simpler programs.

John