linw: Don't spend too much time on 8.1 as 10 is just around the corner!
10 is not really introducing any features that require vastly new hardware, except for security features like finger print scanner (which are already available and never present on cheap laptops)
The best time to buy a new laptop is when there are discounts on the latest generation of Intel CPU's. This year it is the 5XXXU for its dual core chips (likely what you will get for low end $$$)
As long as you get a laptop with a good enough CPU (aka latest Intel, not from 4XXX series) and 4GB+ ram (ideally 8GB) then you will be fine..
The thing to watch out for coming up in the next 6-8 months is Intel Skylake, which is the successor to the Broadwell 5XXXX series.
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