ventless fireplaces - electric or gel?

I'm thinking of purchasing a fireplace for my condo. The electric fireplaces seem to be a little more expensive, but at least you don't have to continually buy the gel cans that are needed to power the other ones. I'm having trouble deciding and I need some help.

1) I'm looking for something somewhat realistic-looking. I've never seen an electric fireplace in action and I have no idea what to expect.

2) I like the ambiance of having a fireplace - and one that throws heat would be great.

3) I'm planning on putting it in my livingroom and mounting a flat screen TV above it. I'd rather just have a fireplace and not a fireplace/entertainment center combo

Thanks for any advice you can give! I'm also looking for a good place to buy!

Re: ventless fireplaces - electric or gel?

I have seen both in person, and IMO the electric is WAY nicer. Worth the $

Re: ventless fireplaces - electric or gel?

what is a gel fireplace, never heard of it?

Re: ventless fireplaces - electric or gel?

The gel fireplaces have a realistic-looking log that holds three containers of gel fuel behind it (think sternos). The gel lights and burns for about 2-3 hours. The only problem with them, though, is that the gel fuel cans can be costly... and I hope to use this thing a lot... so it might be more cost effective for me to get an electric.

I'd like to get a gas fireplace, but I just don't have the $$$ to afford it at the moment.

Re: ventless fireplaces - electric or gel?

I have a ventless gas fireplace. It throws a lot of heat and looks great.

I looked into gel, and found the same thing you did - that the gel gets expensive to keep replacing.

I never considered electric because I wanted a real flame. Not sure how those work.