This is what I ended up getting. I couldnt get to see the cannondale, seller was getting more flakey with meeting times. Decided to not follow through with it.

The Schwinn, while bigger, was heavier than I thought it would have been so I settled on a smaller bike. My legs are just nearly fully extended when pedaling. Treading is old and so the tires need to get replaced. Cost me 115. Shinano brakes/derauillers. Miyata frame (dunno if that is significant or not) Can't find the craigslist ad for this but here are some pics after I rode on it.

Even if it turns out I could have done better, it's nice to have a bike that is much better than my old one. Plus, I'll start learning more about bike maintenance on a bike like this.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR YOUR ADVICE! I'll be checking out the commuter forum often for other tips.