Two semi-whiny mac questions for the Group Mind

[substitute]

1) Is there any way to keep applications from egregiously stealing focus, sometimes in damaging and annoying ways? It's bad enough that some noncritical program can just barge in and hide your work and demand a click, but sometimes it also steals your keyboard input immediately or even worse steals the foreground but doesn't give you mouse or keyboard focus, and then you have to flail and swear.

2) How much, roughly, does it cost to replace a Macbook Pro keyboard? I've typed mine to pieces and no AppleCare/warranty/wife/horse/mustache is available.

Comments

[brianenigma.livejournal.com]

What's even worse is when they steal focus in another Spaces workspace. Fwoosh! Now you're on another screen and I demand your attention!

With the exception of iTunes popup dialogs, I think I've managed to make most everything not interrupt and/or go through Growl. There's a certain sort of OCD ADD that goes with email and RSS programs that notify you that there are THREE NEW ITEMS!!! (even if it's a number badge in the icon) since the last time I checked, TWO MINUTES AGO. Even if I'm in the middle of something important, I'll click over just to make the counter go away. Along similar lines, I've shut off a lot of little ADD-like-notifiers on my system. Only a few important things try to get my attention, and they're configured to not bounce or popup or anything, just go through Growl please.