I own four different fondue pots.  I actually still have my mother's fondue pot from the 70's!   If I am doing a hot oil/meat fondue I use an electric fondue pot to get the oil hot enough and keep it at an even temperature.  You can also use it for chocolate or cheese fondue but it has to be plugged in and then you have to deal with a cord and worry about someone tripping over it. For chocolate and cheese fondue I like to use the smaller fondue pot that uses a tea light for heat.  I own two of those.  The trick is you just have to be sure and stir the fondue once in a while so that it doesn't burn on the bottom as it get a bit hot in the center where the tea light is.  It doesn't heat as evenly as the electric but works well for cheese or fondue.  I usually warm the cheese or chocolate in the microwave first and then put it into the fondue pot. Another alternative is to use a small crockpot.