As a common trope suggests, fathers often find themselves overlooked when it comes to holiday gift inquiries. Brad Chacos, a technology writer at PCWorld, leads a fulfilling existence with supportive family, engaging career colleagues, a high-performance gaming setup, and occasional social outings. Despite the demands of his routine, he wouldn't exchange it for anything else. For over ten years, no family members have sought his input on presents, though he appreciates the surprising items he receives. This holiday season, Chacos has compiled his own selection of desired gifts, offering ideas for similar tech-loving parents or for self-purchase. Most items remain in stock with prompt delivery options if ordered promptly.
Chacos's existing headphones have deteriorated after extensive use in gaming and competitive play, held together by makeshift repairs. Financial priorities like housing, groceries, and children's activities have delayed an upgrade, particularly as a solo parent. He has settled on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless as his next choice, released in 2022. It provides excellent sound and microphone performance, along with extensive customization via software. The headset supports connectivity to computers and leading consoles through dual wireless options, allowing seamless switching between devices—ideal for transitioning sessions from workspace to home area. A standout feature is its active noise cancellation, which offers partial sound isolation. While some reviews noted limitations in blocking all noise, Chacos views this as beneficial, enabling awareness of household events like a child's call or plumbing issues.
Dungeons & Dragons holds a prominent place in Chacos's home, but with his high school daughter soon heading to college, he aims to enhance her practical abilities through themed activities. The Düngeonmeister Cookbook fits perfectly, featuring 75 recipes inspired by the game, such as Dwarven Battle Pasta, Adamantine Bars, and simple Dragon meat skewers. This aligns with their tabletop gaming hobby, encouraging collaborative cooking sessions. Amazon offers expedited delivery for physical copies if ordered soon, with a digital Kindle edition as an alternative.
Chacos harbors a deep passion for the Mass Effect series, having endured multiple console failures to complete the original trilogy on Xbox 360, preserving his save data through hardware issues. A leather jacket styled after the N7 armor from the game, available from Luca Design for $350, tops his desires. It would suit any science fiction enthusiast. The designer's site showcases various pop culture replicas, including a Samurai jacket from Cyberpunk 2077, appealing to fans of games, anime, and comics alike. Delivery for these custom pieces extends beyond the holidays, so a promise of future arrival or a gift card would suffice.
Chacos's mornings involve early school drop-offs, exercise, and diving into a global team's workflow at PCWorld, often leaving his coffee undrunk and cooling. The Nextmug addresses this by maintaining beverages at selectable temperatures—warm at 130°F, hot at 140°F, or scorching at 150°F—for up to two hours off its base or indefinitely when docked, without needing apps. Priced at $95, it proves valuable for someone with a schedule extending late into the evening.
An avid Formula 1 follower, Chacos anticipates challenges in 2026 when races shift exclusively to Apple TV for five years, adding to his existing subscriptions like YouTube TV and Netflix. The platform will incorporate advanced elements previously exclusive to F1 TV, such as onboard cameras and team radio for all drivers. This upgrade makes the service more enticing than before. A $100 Apple gift card could fund a full year's access, also allowing time for family-oriented series like Severance and Ted Lasso, as direct subscriptions aren't giftable.
Despite regular exercise and walks, age-related aches prompt Chacos to consider recovery tools. The TheraGun Relief, an affordable model from Therabody starting at under $250, allows testing percussive therapy before committing to higher-end versions. As a detail-oriented buyer, he prefers validating effectiveness first, especially for physical maintenance amid a busy lifestyle.
A house fire in 2023 destroyed Chacos's collection of displays, leaving him eager for a versatile gaming monitor upgrade. In the coming year, OLED technology stands out, with the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED ultrawide earning top honors in PCWorld's 2025 awards. Budget constraints lead him toward the more accessible Alienware AW2725D, a 27-inch OLED panel at 1440p resolution and 280Hz refresh rate—optimal for current PC gaming, particularly with Nvidia's RTX 50-series and DLSS 4 features. Currently discounted and shipping in time for holidays, it delivers exceptional visuals at a fraction of premium costs, serving as a comprehensive solution until he expands his setup again. Detailed reviews highlight its superior performance relative to pricier alternatives.
Social evenings with friends often involve Cards Against Humanity, and Chacos seeks to infuse nerdy elements via the Nerd Bundle. This expansion includes packs themed around fantasy, geek culture, science fiction, the internet, artificial intelligence, and humanity, enhancing gameplay with relevant humor. It complements the core game's irreverent style without overstepping professional boundaries.
Chacos favors subtle RGB enhancements in his gaming area over minimalist designs or excessive colors. The Corsair MM700 RGB extended mouse pad provides customizable edge lighting and a spacious cloth surface accommodating both keyboard and mouse, essential for precise movements in competitive scenarios. Paired with apparel like the N7 jacket, it elevates the aesthetic of any setup.
To wrap up, Chacos endorses merchandise from the Full Nerd podcast, co-created with colleague Adam, available at the Crowdmade store. Favorites include the Outrage Pony design and tees like Build It Yourself or the Smooooooth 30, which playfully nod to PC superiority over consoles. These allow enthusiasts to display their interests publicly. The podcast streams several times weekly on YouTube, exploring in-depth PC hardware, gaming, and tech trends—inviting viewers to embrace the full spectrum of nerdy pursuits.
Brad Chacos focuses on desktop computing and social media at PCWorld, with expertise in graphics hardware, gaming systems, cybersecurity, Windows advice, and various PC components.