If you are serious about sewing, quilting, doing upholstery then I would look carefully at machines and take your time.
Also, do not rule out used machines...
Most of us update our machines and our loss is your gain...you get a great running, serviced, loved machine at alot less than retail.
I would get a machine that you could grow into.
Maybe a bit fancy for you now but one that you wouldn't have to replace in a year of two because your skills and sewing desires have expanded...
Buy the best machine you can afford.
Viking, Pfaff, Brother, Janome, Babylock...and probably a couple of others I can't remember are all very good machines.
Kirsten