Electric-can-opener question  refers to the recognition that some older, low-tech products are superior to the newer, high-tech¹ products that are supposed to replace them.

 

“电动开罐器问题”指一些老式的、技术含量低的产品反而优于那些意欲取代它们的新生代高科技产品的状况。

 

The model for this phrase is, of course, the electric can opener, which most people consider to be markedly inferior to the cheaper and easier-to-use manual can opener. Why pay more money to buy something which you know to be inferior to an older, cheaper technology?

 

这个说法的来源自然就是，很多人都认为电动开罐器根本没有廉价的手动开罐器好用。所以，为什么非要多花钱买一些你自知没有老式、廉价技术好用的东西呢？