What do you want
Someone else asked, what do you want it for, and that is the most valid question. What do you want to spend is the second.
There are good brands. I am using my Lenovo (IBM) and I got it with a quad core I7 because I do video converting and editing with this laptop.
But, if your only using if for email, websurfing, word processing, spreadsheets, then you don't need a super powerful chip.
Sony is good but bells and whistles you might not want...and you do pay for it.
Lenovo (IBM) is good, and a fair price.
HP is good regardless of someone else said.
Acer is a price leader, it is not as rugged as some other brands.
You must also consider if some company has a sale, this often can make a fair buy into an excellent buy.
I got my Lenovo on sale before Christmas, I have been happy with it. My only complaint is I hit the mouse pad to easily and it causes me aggravation. Mine is the Ideapad series but the Thinkpad series does'nt use a pad, it uses a little button that you shove around,,,,,I had that before and it takes a little while to get used to but you never have problems with an overly sensative touch pad.