It all depends on your needs, usage, etc..
Both have pros and cons.
would a netbook be adiquete as say a second computer ie in the bedroom just to serfe the net and r u able to install aol?
Netbook would be fine.
And why would you want to use AOL? Are you still on dial up?
But AOL is sucky... Do they provide the service? Or are you getting it from someone and using thier client, cause that is how I believe it works. If the latter, I would say just use firefox or IE as a web browser, you don't need AOL