But I've found this approach a bit easier than the screwdriver method.
I've had the exact opposite experience, that type of extractor pretty much relies on brute force whereas a screwdriver (or small pocketknife) uses easily controlled (and limited) leverage. A few mm on the left, a few mm on the right, repeat maybe once and the chip is out.
..not to confuse that useless extractor with a quality PLCC extractor which you really shouldn't do without in the event you need to extract a PLCC chip.
