[Closed] Suggestions for bike - help wanted

Hi,
I haven't bought a bike (other than a BMX!) in a long time and my parents have given me the task of finding a ride for my brother for his birthday. I know exactly what he wants but unfortunately my mtb knowledge is approx 10 years out of date so not who makes bikes like that. Requirements are as follows:

£600 BUDGET
Steel frame
Rigid forks (unless you can actually get a decent sus fork for that money these days)
Vs prefered to discs

Basically a very simple (he's a crap mechanic, broke and lives in Germany - too far away for me to maintain it for him!) fast mtb that'll spend most of its time on road but can do semi-serious offroad if asked. He DOESN'T want a hybrid. He used to ride my mid 90s Clockwork and loved it before it was stolen, so soemthing simillar. I thought it would be a doddle to find him something but things have changed since I last looked at mtbs - what happened to Kona? - was my first thought but they just don't seem to make bikes like they used to...

All help/advice/ideas gratefully recieved.