Open X doesn't mark the It spot
Taking a look at another handy tool to open packages. It comes in a box that you can open without any tools, which is a good start.
A few days ago I blogged about the Open It, a package opener. I thought it was a pretty good product, partially because it was designed by a group of women.
The OpenX
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)Soon after I posted the blog, I was solicited to review the OpenX opener. On Tuesday, I received a few samples.
The OpenX comes in a box that you can open without any tools, which is a good start. It has an ergonomic shape with a good grip and two cutting blades. The first blade stays retracted, and you need to push it out with your right thumb to cut a slit when opening a package. You push the second, U-shaped blade into the slit and zip it along the package to open it.
I tried the tool with a few packages and it worked well, especially with those impossible plastic clamshells. However, it's not really helpful with packages thicker than its 5mm long blade or packages that require a screwdriver to open. Also, the OpenX doesn't give you enough leverage to cut strong packing materials that would normally require a pair of strong scissors.
One more thing: the OpenX is not lefty-friendly. You need to be right-handed to operate its retractable blade, which is a big shortcoming.
I don't think the OpenX can outdo the Open It; nonetheless, it is a handy tool that costs only about $7. And that's the story of how I became a reviewer of package openers for the first, and hopefully last, time.
