Sigh.. the misinformation being posted here is sad. Salt water pools use the same chemicals as non-salt water pools.. BLEACH.. Chlorine.. Saying a salt water pool uses less or different chemicals is simply false. Salt water pools use a device which separates the chlorine from salt to sanitize the pool in the EXACT same way as using tablets or liquid chlorine.
That being said, there are some advantages to a salt water pool.. the water generally 'feels' better to people and it takes less effort to maintain because you don't need to add salt nearly as often as you would have to add liquid chlorine or tablets.
They also have disadvantages.. they use electricity to separate the Na and Cl, which means higher electric bills. They also cost $$$ to install and maintain and can wear out and need to be replaced.
The other type of popular oxidizer is Baquacil. Which is marketed under many different names. Some people find it less irritating than chlorine but its also very expensive and requires you to purchase their expensive 'fixes' when having issues.
I strongly recommend people interested in more information go to:
http://www.troublefreepool.com/
Check out their 'Pool School' section. It will tell you everything you need to know about maintaining your pool. There are other options as some have said here such as Ozone or UV, and Bromine, but they are really not viable for most home outdoor pools.