-> i've installed quite a bit longer in extreme cases... yes, parallel... i
-> believe the longest was 50 feet... in an office, up over the ceiling tiles and
-> down to the laser printer...
-> granted, it was "special" cable... "special" in
that it was of very high grade,
-> extremely well shielded, and very heavy...

 I suspect you were Very Lucky. That is far beyond the "Suggested
length" for a Parallel cable. 
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