i am totally flumuxed myself by choosing a new machine, lets think logically, there is,
singer - i don't know much about this brand, but obviously they have been around for years, both my mum and grandma had a singer.
brother, jamone, pfaff - again don't know much about these, but i have spotted quite a few janome machines on craft blogs
husqvarna - i have their cheaper option, a huskystar which i've had since college, its 18 years old and needs to retire, but it has done me proud
bernina - now, my gut instinct is to go for one of these, but they are expensive, basic model is around £500. the bernette range is cheaper but i have read that they are not actually manufactured by bernina just marketed by them, so will not be of the same standard
are you after one with lots of pre programmed decorative stitches?, might help to make a list of the jobs you would like it to do. i'm after,
basic sewing (inc buttonholes)
free machining (embroidery)
quilting (i've heard the thing to have is a 'walking foot')
but am intrigued by the idea of designing an image on the computer and being able to load it into the sewing machine and it sew it for me, but i think these are referred to as embroidery machines rather than sewing machines, it probably costs way to much to get something that does both.
i've just waffled haven't i!