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There will be VERY little "real" difference between brands of laptops - most will use similar components (there are like 2 parts manufacturers that OEMs use) and offer similar features.
The main things you'll want to consider:
-RAM drives the train for most of the 'everyday' uses you listed. Pay a little extra and upgrade now, it'll save headaches on the back end.
-Processor upgrades can be extremely expensive in laptops - an older, dual-core processor should still meet your needs for the near-future and save quite a bit of money over an i3/i7/etc.
-Look for something that meets your size needs first, then fit it to your price point (and for $1500 you can essentially go top-of-line if desired, but you can get a solid box for half that). You'll be much happier if the form factor gives you what you need.
-The Mac/PC differences are a little exaggerated nowadays - they're pretty similar platforms now (from chipset to OS). That means it's not particularly hard to go from PC to Mac if you'd like, but also means the perceived advantages to Macs aren't quite as pronounced as in the past. Only you can tell if you'll be a "Mac person" - try out a MacBook, and see what happens ... the other advice will still hold true(-ish).
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