The Giant Escape 3, the bike in the post above, is a good commuter. Fast, nimble, great breaks, and mounts for fenders and rack. The only downside I can think of is if your used to 26" tires and not 700c is that it can be a rougher ride in comparison. But to be fair that's probably just a 26" vs 700c issue in general.

oh, one other thing, 26" tires are better in snow than 700c, at least that has been my experience so far.