For entry level laptops Dell is generally your most economical choice. On occasion certain models will be overpriced compared to what others offer, but usually you get the most bang for your buck with Dell on laptops < $600. Higher end models you have a few choices in my experience.
The mid range Toshiba Satellite laptops I have worked on have been top notch. You can feel the quality compared to the entry level Dells. My little brother had his Satelite for 5 years before it started to have problems with the power. He sent it to me so I could fix it ( power plug on mobo needs to be replaced) , and even at 5 years old I was impressed at the quality of the machine.
Just last week a lady at work brought her Toshiba laptop in for me to upgrade to Windows 7, and I was very impressed as well. As I recall, it was
this 18 inch model for $750. There is a
comparable 16 inch model as well if size is a concern. The 18 inch model was pretty light though, I was quite surprised.
Macs are clearly another option as well. Especially if work is footing some of the bill. It will cost alot more than the Toshiba though, and from the sounds of it you are not in need of a top of the line machine. Macs do make a good value, but only if you need what they offer. Most users, especially if it is for typical 3W use by a casual user(Web, Word, and Wacking) do not demand the power that a Mac offers so the price paid.
Stay away from Vaio's IMHO. I have family that bought a Vaio desktop and laptop machines and both were far overpriced for their specs and neither could be considered anything more than entry level machines.