Need to buy a laptop!

Alrighty, here’s the deal. I need (not really need, but it’d be nice and easier for my new job) a laptop. And I’m not particularly knowledgeable about the tech. stuff about computers. SO was just looking for some advice as to what would be a good choice.

Definitely looking for a Microsoft, probably more RAM than normal, fairly good processor speed - all the things needed for developing and designing. Not really games or anything like that.

And I can’t really afford a really expensive one, so bdget would be $700 - $1000.

Thanks!