Hi Rick,
Welcome to IIS
Both the scopes you listed are very similar, but of the two i would go for the Celestron, which has a slightly better name and seems to come with a better set of accessories.
However, i would not recommend either for a beginner for observing.
Two reasons.
4 inch aperture (114mm) is not going to give you a pleasing image of the planets (size and contrast); and
the EQ mount is not a easy and fun mount to use for observing.
If you do a search on this site, you will see time and time again our recommendation for beginning observers is a dobsonian mount. Easy to set up just point and look.
At a minimum try to get an 8 inch Dobsonian.
Best price I have seen today is $449 for a GSO solid tube or $499 for a skywatcher flex dob (collapsible tube).
But even with an 8 inch scope, the planet views will not blow your sox off.
Best advice I can give is to try to find a local gathering observing meeting and look through a bunch of other peoples scopes.
If you are in the area, you can come to our observing nights on the Central Coast. But I am sure there will be some closer to you.
Good Luck
al