Amazon began taking preorders of its Kindle 2 e-book reader on February 9, and a month later, it’s still one of the most talked-about tech gadgets. The second-generation Kindle doesn’t disappoint, either: it has an improved screen, a better button layout, a wider selection of e-books, and the (highly debated) text-to-speech capability. There’s even a way to view Kindle books on your iPhone now. And let’s not forget the rumored touch-screen Kindle 3 in the works. Let’s all blame Oprah for the national Kindle hysteria!

If all the excitement has made you reach for your wallet to snag the $359 device, then you’ve probably noticed that Amazon forgot to include a little something in the box: a protective book cover! That’s no mistake, folks. Although Amazon’s first-generation Kindle included a book cover, the retailer decided to ship the next model without one. But don’t fret— most Kindle owners complained about that flimsy book cover anyway, and there are lots of cover options available.

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