This isn't actually a max problem but there's a lot of Arduino/Max crossover users so I thought I'd ask here as well as the Arduino forums.

A mac mini (medium old, powerpc, tiger) i'm trying to get ready for an installation doesn't seem to like Arduinos.

I'm using a quite simple chest-stretch-band breath sensor. The data comes into max through arduino2max v4, but on the mac mini it's incredibly slow. I put a timer object on it for curiosity and its really regular, around one reading from the analog pin every 131 ms (7.5Hz ish). That's kind of unacceptable & I don't know how to make it any better than that. Anyone had any similar problems with arduinos and mac minis? Any ideas?

. Arduino (Diecimila) works fine and smooth on my Macbook, as does an alternative Arduino (NG) which is the same slow poll rate when connected to the mac mini. 

. Sensor works fine with either arduino on the macbook. 

. Max 4 as installed on the Mac Mini is fine and smooth when not trying to do arduino stuff.

. tried reinstalling the latest FTDI usb drivers... no luck

Please, anyone, suggestions or commiserations!

A mac mini (medium old, powerpc, tiger) i'm trying to get ready for an installation doesn't seem to like Arduinos. 

I've ruled out the following:
. Arduino (Diecimila) works fine and smooth on my Macbook, as does an alternative Arduino (NG) which is the same slow poll rate when connected to the mac mini. 
. Sensor works fine with either arduino on the macbook. 
. Max 4 as installed on the Mac Mini is fine and smooth when not trying to do arduino stuff.
. tried reinstalling the latest FTDI usb drivers... no luck

Please, anyone, suggestions or commiserations! 

arduino-mac-mini-problem

Forgot to mention that I was originally controlling this mac mini through VNC, (didn't shell out for peripherals) using the otherwise great (and free) "Chicken of the VNC" and "Vine Server".

http://www.redstonesoftware.com/products/vine_server/

Having Vine Server running on the mac mini was slowing the Arduino down. Not sure why. When I plugged a monitor in it was all fine.

Anyone know why the VNC interferes with the Arduino like that? ...especially since it DIDN'T interfere when i was using VNC on a mac mini with a Miditron in a previous installation I worked on? It was all fine then which is why i went for VNC this time... Must be because Arduino is Serial and Miditron is (obviously) Midi...

Those two  are here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/cotvnc/
http://www.redstonesoftware.com/products/vine_server/

Having Vine Server running on the mac mini was slowing the Arduino down. Not sure why. When I plugged a monitor in it was all fine. 

Anyone know why the VNC interferes with the Arduino like that? ...especially since it DIDN'T interfere when i was using VNC on a mac mini with a Miditron in a previous installation I worked on? It was all fine then which is why i went for VNC this time... Must be because Arduino is Serial and Miditron is (obviously) Midi... 

Arduino Mac Mini problem