You would need to get him a Macbook Pro, you can run Windows on a Macbook Pro using Bootcamp or install it on a VM using one of the many virtualization clients that have some very nice optional integration abilities into OS X.<p>If he really likes the Macbook Pro, it is best to get him a Macbook Pro, he might become a hybrid fan. Either way with him having a Mac and running OS X he will be able to increase his knowledge base by adding experience overtime with OS X and maybe adding Linux later down the line.
What hardware (specifically) is your dad enamored with? Just the generally durable build quality (aluminum frame, etc)? the big trackpad? Chiclet keys?<p>I've had luck with some Asus models that are clearly aping Apple's design style. They aren't quite up to the level of a MBP in terms of build quality but they can cost half as much for similar specs.<p>I picked one up this summer with an i7, 16GB RAM, nVidia GTX 760M, and a 1920x1080 display. Strong points are the aluminum frame, Apple-like multitouch trackpad, backlit chiclet keyboard, and fairly high specs for a $1k laptop.<p>Weaknesses compared to a MBP are that the bottom of the laptop is not aluminum (but does offer easy access to RAM slots and battery), the display is inferior to Apple's in terms of viewing angles, and the aluminum top is fairly thin so you can see it dimple slightly if you push on it with a decent amount of force.<p>For my uses, I was fine with sacrificing a slight amount of durability and viewing angle to get that level of components for under a grand but your dad may or may not find it worth the sacrifice. They had updated the model last time I was at Microcenter but still keep that $900-1000 price range, just an updated CPU and GPU as far as I can tell.<p>edit: this is the sort of thing I'm talking about - <a href="http://www.microcenter.com/product/438186/N551JK-MH71_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Gray_Aluminum" rel="nofollow">http://www.microcenter.com/product/438186/N551JK-MH71_156_La...</a><p>Also, I forgot to mention, the other "con" is it comes with a HDD instead of a SSD. For the things I do on this laptop, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make and I believe I can add one later if I so choose. Your results may vary and the list of things I considered small "cons" might be things your dad really doesn't want to do without and may be willing to pay another $1500 for in a MBP.
Razer Blade 2104
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Blade-Touchscreen-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B00J06F4T2" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Blade-Touchscreen-Gaming-Laptop/...</a><p>It's basically a macbook but PC/Win + Black
I'm running a 2014 15" MBP as a Windows machine with bootcamp. It's not bad, but would not have been my first choice (Company issued) My personal beef is the keyboard layout sucks (for a Windows guy). Other than that it's a perfectly capable Windows machine.<p>Having said that, my first choice is the Dell XPS 15 (<a href="http://www.dell.com/au/p/xps-15-9530/pd" rel="nofollow">http://www.dell.com/au/p/xps-15-9530/pd</a>)<p>Otherwise the Lenovo Carbon or Yoga Pro 2/3 are also great depending on what you're looking for.
You can run Windows on Apple hardware natively.<p><a href="https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/" rel="nofollow">https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/</a>
Lenovo ThinkPad carbon is more like the MacBook Air but otherwise see <a href="http://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebookcheck-s-Top-10-Ultrabooks.91067.0.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebookcheck-s-Top-10-Ultraboo...</a>
Look at a Surface Pro 3. And definitely not a Macbook Pro like people are recommending -- for a variety of reasons: driver quality, needless frustration with Apple software, etc etc.
Question for those on here loving the Apple trackpads for coding: what exactly are you doing, as a coder, that requires a nice trackpad? I hardly use mine. I lost a bunch of trackpad functionality when switching from Linux to FreeBSD, and hardly miss it at all (mostly when in Firefox).