One problem I've heard with using gelatin to clear your beer is that if you move it around after adding the gelatin, you're liable to have the problem you encountered with bits of gelatin in your beer. I've never tried it, I just use Irish moss in the last 10 minutes or so of the boil. There are various other "finings" that one adds to the boil, but they all do pretty much the same... help the yeast fall out of solution once they're done eating all or most of the sugar. Then again I mostly brew dark beers so I don't worry too much about the clarity of my beer.