Windows XP has a solution to this: the taskbar flash

That "solution" is just as bad as the Mac's bouncing icons described in the article - while it doesn't steal keyboard focus, it does steal user focus

What else do you expect though? You launched a long running task. It is done. Microwave goes ding.

	▲	eviks an hour ago \| parent [-]
		My expectation is described in the comment you replied to and side comments Microwave's ding is also bad UI, especially when it's repetitive as it's just useless noise. But even the first ding - what value does it have if you already have exactly the same notification category - audio cue - built right there in the process: the machine noise disappears when it stops working.