If you're going to code then one single word of advice: get a LARGE screen. As for Mac... meh, it's up to you. Fast CPU, 4GB memory, large 1920x1080 screen, a decent graphics card (depends if you're gonna play games occasionally), if you can cram an SSD in your budget that would be epic but it's more expensive. But please fill in the FAQ first.
PS : Mac laptops charge a huge premium ($500-$1000) for inferior hardware in case you didn't know. That's right, when you buy a Mac you're buying $500 software at the same time. So if you really want a good laptop I would suggest getting a Dell or some other brand laptop then install the Mac OS on it - unless you like spending money of course