Take a look the Springfield XD, Ruger, and Taurus. They're all priced pretty well and are worth the investment, IMHO. The Rugers are ugly, but well-built. Taurus has really been moving up recently with some solid self-defense pistols designs on a reasonablebudget.

Talk to your friends or people here on the board who live in your area about firearms dealers. Probably the best thing you could do is go visit one and tell the dealer what you're looking for and for how much. If he/she knows his/her stuff, you'll have probably at least half a dozen options to choose from, maybe more. Get one that fits your grip comfortably and has a reputation for reliability.