You can try Nxt for free instantly, with no dowloads or clients here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=925811.0Recently, someone has been going in each account, clearing out the funds, presumably thinking they are real Nxt
(This is the testnet so the assets and coins are worthless) Let me know if you can't find an account with a balance.
You can invest in assets, mine POW coins that are built within Nxt, send encrypted messages, buy and sell digital goods (ebooks, mp3 etc)... lots of interesting stuff if you take a look around.