What bike to get?

A friend bought a Gaint Perigee a few weeks back. Good value at the run out price of $925.

I bought a Felt SR81, a little more money but a better equiped (Shimano 105) bike. We ride together and they both do the same things in the same places, gear for gear, so I guess time will show the better bike.

If you don't want panniers on your commuting bike, then get a "standard" drop bar road/race bike. Why not have more hand positions? I commute over terrible roads in Sydney on a stock standard giant tcr2 2003 model. (32 spoke) wheels remain true after 2000km, I often hit unseen, large bumps and potholes at night, and I weigh 85kg. I nurse it over curbs, and try to nurse it a little over seen bumps and holes. If you're getting one for commuting, avoid the more lightly built, reduced spoke number wheelsets such as shimano 540s. Don't believe the hype, road bikes are MUCH faster than upright-posture bikes with high-pressure slicks or standard road wheels/tyres, and are much more fun to ride on roads or paths, I think (unless the paths are made of multiple concrete slabs with unintended steps between them, an unfortunately common Sydney style, where a mountain bike would be preferable).

If you want panniers, which would be a reasonable desire, then make sure your prospective frame has the correct lugs. One of the heavier-built flat-bar road bikes would be appropriate (my wife has just bought the Avanti Blade Comp, to which we easily fitted front and rear pannier racks. Nice bike, although I'd prefer drop bars). You could probably change the bars to drops, although it would be better value to buy a stock bike with drops, a strong frame, and pannier rack attachment points.
(A touring bike like the Mongoose World Randonneur or the more expensive and higher quality Cannondales would also fit the bill.)

The perigree looks like a quick, road-type bike, apart from the upright posture, but the picture I found on the web shows reduced spoke number wheels; such a bike would often lack pannier lugs and may not be robust enough for heavy use on bad roads if you're heavy yourself.
The dew deluxe looks like a stronger commuting bike, but the front and rear disc brakes are going to make it hard to put strong pannier racks on and are probably overkill for commuting anyway. I've had no trouble in the wet with standard road sidepull brakes, although v-brakes are clearly superior and no more expensive.