And even if it isn't charged, you just need a standard micro USB cable, not anything proprietary. I can use the same cable (including the car charger!) for my phone and for my Kindle and for a number of other little peripheral devices.
That, and the only time I've ever had my Kindle go dead on me was when I accidentally left the WiFi on and used it constantly for like three weeks.
Though you can do the same thing with the Nook. The Nook Color (like the iPad) requires more power than conventional USB to charge quickly, but you can use a standard micro USB cable to charge it.
