You should use search here and see many threads with answers to your question.

With equal SEER and initial cost I'd take heat pump any day.

Never mind. With virtually no info provided, you have your answer. lol

What would you use after a hard day in the cotton field Klem1? I'm seldom fooled but you did a band up job, hats off.

Stax, BOOO! Oh oh, time to delete

To the question, go with what Kunta Klem1 suggested.

Kevie, I said nothing to you nor about you... but from your posts it would be easy to do so.

Troll much?

If you like a warm house in the winter in Florida, get the heat pump.

If you like a cold house in the winter in Florida, get the air conditioner with electric heat.

Because Florida is such a mild climate in the winter, it really comes down to what you want. It can get cold in Florida, but it's more likely to remain warm.

If you "run" the heat pump in heating mode, the efficiency of the unit will pay for the heat pump upgrade. If you don't use the heat pump in heating mode, you don't need a heat pump.

My climate is similar in Katy, Texas and while I do sell heat pumps it's rare for people to choose that here because cold winters here are like 1 time in 10, 20, 30 years depending on who you talk to. When it does get cold, it usually over in a few days to a week and many times less than that. Florida is probably less so than here, IMO.

It really depends on the cost differential between the heatpump condenser and the AC condenser. For a couple hundred dollars or less, I'd get the heatpump condenser. Unfortunately, while that's as much as it should cost, they frequently cost much more.

"Austin Air Companie: My climate is similar in Katy, Texas and while I do sell heat pumps it's rare for people to choose that here ..."

Hmm, rare, interesting. I'm within your general area and directly know several people with heat pumps. Myself, parents, at least two of their neighbors, an aunt/uncle, my barber, at least one of my neighbors (geothermal in his own house, air-source in two recent rental refurb properties) ... and I'm sure many that I don't know.

Hmm, rare, interesting.

Yeah it's more common for me to find gas heat. There are pockets of people with electric only, but it's a very small market here for more reasons than 1.

If you have gas, there's little reason to switch to a heat pump here. The heating season is too short... in case someone is contemplating that. It's a lose - lose proposition mostly.

That said, I have an Inverter heat pump at my house. (all electric - built in '77-78)

What is an inverter you might ask? (For me it's all about the cooling)

I service the Katy, Texas area

Did the installer explain why he is recommending an AC with heat strips only versus a heat pump? The heat pump will cost more to install but you will save on heating costs.