Written on August 31, 2004
How does C00L GuestMap 2 compare with other GuestMaps?
There are other GuestMaps around, they all have some special features. The goal of C00L GuestMap 2 is to combine best of both worlds. For example, icons that fade away slowly to prevent the map from getting crowded. A zoom feature to get a better overview. It doesn't stop there though. C00L GuestMap 2 has also some unique, really cool features.
What do you think of using custom themes to turn your boring world map into an aquarium with swimming fish, a garden with butterflies, a tree with birds, or anything else that you fancy having on your website?
C00L GuestMap 2 is designed to be simple. There are no input fields for websites that people don't have and e-mail addresses that they don't want to share. But if you want you can add these features with relative ease.
Another unique feature is the ability to embed it anywhere on a page, you can integrate it in your design without needing a pop-up window or an iframe.
24fun
At the moment of writing 24fun's GuestMaps have been offline for several days. If your GuestMap was there, it would be gone. That's why it's important to be independent and host your own GuestMap.
Globe*Trotter
Xenolth's Globe*Trotter GuestMap is free, and open source too. But at the moment it's features are fairly limited and the software is bloated with stuff that you don't need. Also, the client-side coding is bad. Really bad. It makes the GuestMap extremely large to download, and slow to render. Although they do have a forum for support their website with FAQ and other info is pretty empty.
Bravenet
What we have left is Bravenet. it's one of the largest commercial GuestMaps. However, in order to use it you need to register, tell them your name, your age and where you live. The free version of the GuestMap is limited to 100 icons and you will see advertisements. For $20 a year you can get all the features, but it still won't fit in your website very nicely.
Comparison chart
Here's a quick overview the features that each GuestMap has. It is obvious that C00L GuestMap 2.0 is the best GuestMap around.
| C00L GuestMap 2 | Globe*Trotter | Bravenet | 24fun | |
| Zoom | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| No sign up | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Fully customizable | Yes | Sometimes | No | No |
| Themes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Independent | Yes | Sometimes | No | No |
| Unlimited messages | Yes | Yes | For $20 | Yes |
| Working website | Most of the time | Sort of | Yes | Not really |
| Ad/link free | If you want to | Not really | For $20 | No |
| List view | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Contrast view | No, who needs it? | No | Yes | No |
| Embeddable | Yes | Sort of | No | No |
| Tiny, fast, good code | Yes | No | Probably not | No |
| Fading icons | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Works in Opera | Yes | Yes | Not always | ? |
| E-mail notification | Yes | ? | Yes | ? |