If the weapon...
No experience, I plan on taking a safety course.
I am big enough, 6' 180 lbs.
Something in between, I don't need something with A LOT of power, but I want something decent.
I was considering around $1500.00
...is going to also be for your personal, family and home protection, in other words you plan on using it in an emergency, like any piece of emergency gear, the simpler the better. You state you are inexperienced. That leads me to say a revolver is your best bet. They are the simplest to operate, the least moving parts for the shooter to deal with and thus will likely be your best bet in a stressful situation.
The next question is; are you mechanically inclined?
Are you a person who knows where the jack is in your car? Know how to change a flat? In other words, do you figure out how things work readily and are you person who practices things to get better, take wells to new hobbies instead of an infactuation you'll get bored of in a few months?
If so, that opens up pretty much everything out there. There is a saying that goes; the only thing louder than a click when it is supposed to go bang is a bang when it is supposed to go click. THIS MEANS you must take this seriously. If you don't learn what you are doing, you many not be able to kill someone trying to kill you or, much worse, you may kill someone you don't mean to. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.
As has been said, you gotta go get your hands on some weapons, talk to the gun store people, get a feel for what you like.
Get training and learn to use your weapon. Once you get involved, you'll get plenty of recommendations and advice as to type of weapon and training.
If you simply just want a recommendation as to what to go get and aren't interested in a whole bunch of comments and opinions and rigmarole about types and training and use and emergencies and cool slogans and don't wanna be preached to as to how serious this and all that ya da ya da ya, I say;
Get nothing.