Good for you. Today's machines have so many features so you might want to do some homework. Try to determine your "must have" features like:
needle up/down
dropping feedogs
thread cutter
decorative stitches
embroidery capability
wide throat for quilting ease
the list goes on and on.
You can look up the sites for all of the major brands:
Husqvarna Viking
Bernina
Janome
Brother
Singer
Babylock
and learn about the features that are available. Once you have narrowed it down, a trip to your local sewing machine dealers would be helpful and allow you to test drive some machines. Some dealers can be high pressure salesmen but if you go in and explain that you are considering several different brands they should tread lightly. How they react to you will speak volumes. They also should have brochures that you can take home. All of us have our favorite machines/features and I'm sure you will find yours. Do you have a specific budget in mind? Have fun with it and you will find the perfect one for you!