I've been using a 2008 Kona Jake for the last two years for commuting (20 miles round trip), centuries and CX racing. I love it. In fact, last year I started a Kona Jake lovefest thread here. I also have a Surly Cross Check that I built up from a frame, first as a fixed gear, and later with 105/Ultegra parts. These two bikes are fairly similar. There are a several others you'll see promoted at the same level. The Specialized Tri Cross, Fuji Cross Comp and Soma Double Cross come to mind.

Here's what I would say: Any CX bike will be great for a beginner for CX racing (which you absolutely must do!). Look for a CX bike that has the braze-ons and eyelets for rack and fenders. Any CX bike that has these will be good for commuting. Up your budget if you don't want to buy used. If you can do your own mechanical work and are 100% certain you can pick a bike from a geometry chart, you can save some money with bikesdirect.com, but it's a gamble otherwise. There's no substitute for a good test ride.

Beyond that, it's a matter of personal preferences. I think the Kona Jake is a great value at $900 for Tiagra components, and I like its triple crankset for commuting and weekend rides (though it's a minus for CX racing). I would avoid anything with Sora components, but others have said they're OK. People seem to love carbon forks, but at the entry level price point, I'm skeptical.

If you can find a Fuji Cross Comp at a local Performance Bike, jump on it. They were selling the 2009's for $800. It's an insane bargain at that price.