"Helena" version 8 of Mint Desktop Linux is available for download in Release Candidate 1 version.

http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=1106

[Edited on 13/11/09 by britishtrident]

Would it install on an external drive? I don't have much space on this one anymore.

If there was a way to run the programs I use regularly I'd have linux installed full time