It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. The average retail selling price for a Windows laptop is just $477 (NPD data) and you can get a very capable one for much less. However, PC vendors are in business to turn a profit, so they really want you to buy notebooks that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars more.
But if you’re going to pay a premium price, make sure you get a laptop that brings something special to the table, not just a couple of high-end components that won’t affect the way you use it.