Alright then Aschreiner!

Since you're uncertain about your future commitment to cycling and you're not completely convinced that commute cycling is really for you, I'm only going to strongly recommend the following bicycle:

The Jamis Coda Sport ~ $560
www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/12_codasport_bk.html

Last year, the Jamis Coda was named hybrid of the year and was given the Editor's Choice Award for Bicycling's Magazine. That's because the Coda is easy to accelerate, it's agile, and it's one of the most comfortable hybrids found in the American market place. The Coda is made of chromoly steel. That means, that should you decide to continue cycling and you want to invest in higher quality cycling, at some later point in time, then that's just fine. Your Coda, a chromoly steel hybrid bike, will still be there, in the very same structural condition it was the last day that you parked it.

You can then upgrade the Coda. Which means that you can install better components, to make your bicycle ride better than ever before. Better components means a better ride and greater efficiency. The Coda has the capacity to take on tires up 38 mm wide. That means that should your terrain become difficult, such as in winter times rolling through slush and snow, you'll much fewer problems. The Coda can also be equipped with both rack and fenders. The rack will be good for porting such things as extra clothes, food, laptop, etc.. The fenders will better assure that you arrive in time at work with unsoiled clothing. It will safeguard you from all the puddle, mud, and slush splashes.

Of course, the Jamis Coda Sport is an eight speed hybrid bicycle and the Jamis Coda Comp is a nine speed bicycle. That means that the Coda Comp will be easier to accelerate than the Coda Sport. However if you're not that concerned about speed, that won't really matter. The only real noticeable difference between the Coda Sport and the Coda Comp, will be in the drivetrain where smoother shifting will be realized with the slighly better Deore and Alivio derailleurs, possessed by the Coda Comp. That's alright though, because the Acera deraillers possessed by the Coda Sport, are very reliable too.

The Jamis Coda Comp ~ $775
www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/12_codacomp_bk.html

If you'd like to have disc brakes, then the Jamis Coda Elite will be one step above the Coda Comp. It has the same identical drivetrain, just a different braking system. Both the Comp and Elite have a carbon fiber fork. A carbon fiber fork assists in damping out road vibrations. Therefore, a smoother ride should be expected.

The Jamis Coda Elite ~ $1050
www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/12_codaelite.html

* I personally prefer the chromoly steel fork that's on the Coda Sport!

Good Luck!