File IO read returning a string -> but I want a byte -> Question: Is there a faster more efficient way?

[jepler at unpythonic.net]

On Sun, Jun 23, 2002 at 05:27:52PM -0700, Jay wrote:
> #Question: Is there a faster more efficient way?
> 
> from time import clock
> 
> len_data = 20*1024*1024
> data = fp.read(len_data)

bindata = array.array("b", data)

OR
bindata = array.array("b")
bindata.fromfile(fp, len_data)

Jeff