MS Word is evil! Is there a good alternative?

Question

As a developer I really don't like writing documentation but when I have to I'd like to make the process as painless as possible.

The problem with Word is that it constantly gets in my way. I worry more about the layout than about the actual content ... that's why I'd like to get rid of Word.

Ideally I'd like to write my content and then 'compile' it into a document.

I've heard of LaTeX but I don't have any experience with it whatsoever. Would this be the right technology for the job? What editor (Windows) should I use? Is it a good idea to start with LyX?

EDIT: I'm not asking about documenting code (I use Sandcastle for that).

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Update 2014:

We have now switched to GFM (GitHub Flavored Markdown).

• It's really easy to work with.
• Write code & documentation in the same IDE!
• Everything can be versioned!
• Get great output either as raw txt, html or pdf!

Answer 1

I've found that wikis can be good for this. Find a wiki you like that lets you do a bit of formatting, but nothing really heavy. Ideally it should let you format code easily too - to be honest, the markdown available on SO is probably a good start.

That way:

• You have change tracking built-in (assuming a decent wiki)
• You can edit from anywhere
• Everyone always sees the same documentation (instant distribution)
• You can concentrate on content instead of formatting